Fast Rotation of a Sub-km-sized Near-Earth Object 2011 XA3

Abstract

We present lightcurve observations and their multiband photometry for near-Earth object (NEO) 2011 XA3. The lightcurve has shown a periodicity of 0.0304 +- 0.0003 day (= 43.8 +- 0.4 min). The fast rotation shows that 2011 XA3 is in a state of tension (i.e. a monolithic asteroid) and cannot be held together by self-gravitation. Moreover, the multiband photometric analysis indicates that the taxonomic class of 2011 XA3 is S-complex, or V-type. Its estimated effective diameter is 225 +- 97 m (S-complex) and 166 +- 63 m (V-type), respectively. Therefore, 2011 XA3 is a candidate for the second-largest fast-rotating monolithic asteroid. Moreover, the orbital parameters of 2011 XA3 are apparently similar to those of NEO (3200) Phaethon but F/B-type. We computed the orbital evolutions of 2011 XA3 and Phaethon. However, the results of the computation and distinct taxonomy indicate that neither of the asteroids is of common origin.