View source for 4179 Toutatis

{{Short description|Near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo and Alinda group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| name = 4179 Toutatis
| background = NavajoWhite
| image = Asteroid 4179 Toutatis close-up.jpg
| image_scale =
| caption = Toutatis imaged by [[Chang'e 2]] during its flyby
| discovery_ref = <ref name="MPC-object" />
| discoverer = [[Christian Pollas]]
| discovery_site = [[Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie|Caussols]]
| discovered = 4 January 1989
| mpc_name = (4179) Toutatis
| alt_names = {{Hlist
  | 1989 AC
  | 1934 CT
  }}
| pronounced = {{IPAc-en|t|aʊ|ˈ|t|eɪ|t|ᵻ|s}}{{cn|date=December 2024|reason=[[wt:by Toutatis]] says /tuːˈtɑːtɪs/.}}
| adjective = Toutatian<ref>Hudson, [http://users.tricity.wsu.edu/~hudson/Research/Asteroids/4179/water2.htm "Gravitational Isopotentials on Toutatis"]</ref>
| named_after = {{nowrap|[[Toutatis]] {{small|(Celtic mythology)}}<ref name="springer" />}}
| mp_category = {{Hlist
  | [[Near-Earth object|NEO]]
  | [[Apollo asteroid|Apollo]]
  | [[Potentially hazardous object|PHA]]<ref name="MPC-object" /><ref name=jpldata />
  | [[Alinda asteroid|Alinda]]
  | [[Mars-crosser asteroid|Mars-crosser]]
  }}
| orbit_ref = <ref name="jpldata" />
| epoch = 27 November 2008 ([[Julian day|JD]]&nbsp;2454797.5)
| uncertainty = 0
| observation_arc = 83.29&nbsp;yr (30,422 days)
| earliest_precovery_date = 10 February 1934
| aphelion = 4.1242&nbsp;[[Astronomical unit|AU]]
| perihelion = 0.9399&nbsp;AU
| semimajor = 2.5321&nbsp;AU
| eccentricity = 0.6288
| period = 4.03&nbsp;[[Julian year (astronomy)|yr]] (1,472 days)
| mean_anomaly = 5.1220[[Degree (angle)|°]]
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.2446|sup=ms}} / day
| inclination = 0.4460°
| asc_node = 124.30°
| arg_peri = 278.75°
| moid = {{convert|0.0064|AU|LD|abbr=on}}
| dimensions = {{Ubl
  | {{Val|4.75|x|1.95}}&nbsp;km<ref name="nature1" />
  | {{Val|4.26|x|2.03|x|1.70}}&nbsp;km<ref name="Hudson-2003" />
  }}
| mean_diameter = {{val|2.45|u=km}}<ref name="Hudson-2003" />
| mass = {{val|1.9|e=13|u=kg}}<ref name="scheeres1998" />
| density = {{val|2.5|u=g/cm3}}<ref name="scheeres1998" />
| rotation = {{Convert|176|h|d|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name="lcdb" />
| albedo = 0.13<ref name=jpldata />
| spectral_type = [[S-type asteroid|S]]k {{small|([[SMASS classification|SMASSII]])}}<ref name=jpldata />
| magnitude = 8.8–22.4<ref name=AstDys-Toutatis2004 /><ref name=AstDys-Toutatis2059 />
| abs_magnitude = 15.30<ref name=jpldata />
}}

'''4179 Toutatis''' ([[provisional designation]] '''{{mp|1989 AC}}''') is an elongated, stony [[asteroid]] and [[List of slow rotators (minor planets)|slow rotator]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/4179_Toutatis/toutatis.html|title=Asteroid 4179 Toutasis|website=NASA|access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref> classified as a [[near-Earth object]] and [[potentially hazardous asteroid]] of the [[Apollo asteroid]] group, approximately 2.5 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by French astronomer [[Christian Pollas]] at [[Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie|Caussols]] in 1989, the asteroid was named after [[Toutatis]] from Celtic mythology.<ref name="MPC-object" /><ref name="springer" />

Toutatis is also a [[Mars-crosser asteroid]] with a [[Chaos theory|chaotic]] orbit produced by a 3:1 [[orbital resonance|resonance]] with the planet [[Jupiter]], a 1:4 resonance with the planet [[Earth]], and frequent close approaches to the [[terrestrial planet]]s, including Earth.<ref name=resonance/> In December 2012, Toutatis passed within about 18 [[Lunar distance (astronomy)|lunar distances]] of Earth. The Chinese lunar probe [[Chang'e 2]] flew by the asteroid at a distance of 3.2&nbsp;kilometers and a relative velocity of 10.73&nbsp;km/s.<ref name="Lakdawalla20121214"/> Toutatis approached Earth again in 2016, but will not make another notably close approach until 2069.<ref name=jpl-close />

== Properties ==

Toutatis was first sighted on 10 February 1934, as object 1934 CT, but lost soon afterwards.<ref name="MPC-pg1" /> It remained a [[lost asteroid]] for several decades until it was rediscovered on 4 January 1989 by [[France|French]] [[astronomer]] [[Christian Pollas]], and was named after the [[Ancient Celtic religion|Celtic god]] of tribal protection [[Toutatis]] (Teutates). The name of this god is very familiar in [[France]] due to the [[catchphrase]] ''Par Toutatis!'' of the Gauls in the [[comics]] series ''[[Asterix]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-23 |title=By Toutatis! France unveils statue to Asterix creator |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200123-by-toutatis-france-unveils-statue-to-asterix-creator |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>

The spectral properties suggest that this is an [[S-type asteroid|S-type]], or stony asteroid, consisting primarily of [[silicate]]s. It has a moderate [[Bond albedo]] of 0.13.<ref name=jpldata /> [[radar astronomy|Radar]] imagery shows that Toutatis is a highly irregular body consisting of two distinct lobes, with maximum widths of about 4.6&nbsp;km and 2.4&nbsp;km, respectively. It is hypothesized that Toutatis formed from two originally separate bodies which coalesced at some point (a [[Contact binary (small Solar System body)|contact binary]]), with the resultant asteroid being compared to a [[rubble pile]].

Its rotation combines two separate periodic motions into a non-periodic result; to someone on the surface of Toutatis, the [[Sun]] would seem to rise and set in apparently random locations and at random times at the asteroid's horizon. It has a [[rotation period]] around its long axis (P<sub>ψ</sub>) of 5.38 days. This long axis is [[Precession|precessing]] with a period (P<sub>φ</sub>) of 7.38 days.<ref name=icarus158_2_305 /> The asteroid may have lost most of its original angular momentum and entered into this tumbling motion as a result of the [[Yarkovsky–O'Keefe–Radzievskii–Paddack effect|YORP effect]].<ref name=baas39_416 />

== Orbit ==
[[File:Animation of 4179 Toutatis's orbit around Sun.gif|thumb|left|Animation of 4179 Toutatis's orbit around the Sun<br />{{legend2| Magenta |4179 Toutatis}}{{legend2|Yellow| Sun }}{{·}}{{legend2|RoyalBlue| Earth }}{{·}}{{legend2|Cyan| Jupiter}}]]
With a [[semimajor axis]] of 2.5294&nbsp;[[Astronomical Unit|AU]], or roughly 2.5 times the distance between Earth and the Sun, Toutatis has a 3:1 [[orbital resonance]] with Jupiter and a near-1:4 resonance with Earth making it a member of the [[Alinda asteroid]] group.<ref name="resonance" /><ref name="gravsim" /> It thus completes one orbit around the Sun for every 4.02 annual orbits of Earth. The [[gravitational perturbation]]s caused by frequent close approaches to the terrestrial planets lead to [[Chaos theory|chaotic]] behavior in the orbit of Toutatis,<ref name=Whipple1993 /> making precise long-term predictions of its location progressively inaccurate over time.<ref name=Whipple1993 /> Estimates in 1993 put the [[Lyapunov exponent|Lyapunov time horizon]] for predictability at around 50 years,<ref name=Whipple1993 /> after which the uncertainty region becomes larger with each close approach to a planet. Without the [[Perturbation (astronomy)|perturbations]] from the terrestrial planets the Lyapunov time would be close to 10,000 years.<ref name=Whipple1993 /> The initial observations that showed its chaotic behavior were made by [[Wiesław Z. Wiśniewski|Wiśniewski]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minorplanet.info/MPB/MPB_21-2.pdf |title=The Minor Planet Bulletin |publisher=Association of Lunar and Planetary Onservers |date=1994 |access-date=2014-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619055446/http://www.minorplanet.info/MPB/MPB_21-2.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The low [[inclination]] (0.47°) of the orbit allows frequent [[astronomical transit|transits]], where the inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars can appear to cross the Sun as seen from the perspective of Toutatis. Earth did this in January 2009, July 2012, July 2016 and 2020.<ref name=transit />

=== Close approaches and collision risk ===

{| class="wikitable floatleft" style="text-align: center; margin: 1em 1em 0 0;"
|-
! colspan=3 | Close approaches<ref name=jpl-close />
|-
! Year !! AU !! [[Lunar distance (astronomy)|LD]]
|-
| 1985 || 0.28 || 109
|-
| 1988 || 0.12 || 45
|-
| 1992 || 0.02 || 9
|-
| 1996 || 0.03 || 14
|-
| 2000 || 0.07 || 29
|-
| 2004 || 0.01 || 4
|-
| 2008 || 0.05 || 20
|-
| 2012 || 0.05 || 18
|-
| 2016 || 0.25 || 98
|-
| 2065 || 0.36 || 142
|-
| 2069 || 0.02 || 8
|}

Toutatis makes frequent close approaches to Earth, with a currently minimum possible distance (Earth [[MOID]]) of just 0.006&nbsp;[[Astronomical Unit|AU]] (2.3 times as far as the [[Moon]]).<ref name=jpldata /> The approach on 29 September 2004 was particularly close, at 0.0104&nbsp;AU<ref name=neodys /> (within 4 [[lunar distance (astronomy)|lunar distances]]) from Earth, presenting a good opportunity for observation, with Toutatis having an [[apparent magnitude]] of 8.8 at its brightest.<ref name=AstDys-Toutatis2004 /> A close approach of {{convert|0.0502|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=on}} happened on 9 November 2008.<ref name=jpl-close /><ref name=neodys /> The most recent close approach was on 12 December 2012, at a distance of {{convert|0.046|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}},<ref name=jpl-close /><ref name=neodys /> with a magnitude of 10.7.<ref name=NEODys-Toutatis2012 /> At magnitude 10.7, Toutatis was not visible to the [[naked eye]], but just visible to experienced observers using high-end [[Binoculars#Astronomical|binoculars]]. During the 2012 encounter Toutatis was recovered on 21 May 2012, by the [[Siding Spring Survey]] at [[apparent magnitude]] 18.9.<ref name="MPC" /> A close approach will be 5 November 2069, at {{convert|0.01985|AU|km|-3|abbr=on|lk=off}}.<ref name=jpl-close />

Given that Toutatis makes many close approaches to Earth, such as in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, it is listed as a [[potentially hazardous object]].<ref name=jpl-close /> With an [[Uncertainty Parameter U|uncertainty parameter]] of 0,<ref name="jpldata" /> the orbit of Toutatis is very well determined for the next few hundred years.<ref name=jpl-close /> The probability of the orbit intersecting Earth is essentially zero for at least the next six centuries.<ref name=Ostro1998 /> The likelihood of collision in the distant future is considered to be very small.<ref name=usa1993>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2577_v121/ai_13953460/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628224051/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2577_v121/ai_13953460/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-28 |work=USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) |title=Close call for earth ahead?{{Snd}} possible collision with asteroid Toutatis |date=1993 }}</ref> As a planet-crossing asteroid, Toutatis is likely to be ejected from the inner Solar System within a few million years. In 2004 a [[chain e-mail]] falsely claimed that Toutatis had a 63% chance of impacting Earth then. In fact, Toutatis passed by at 1.5 million kilometres, or about four Earth–Moon distances, as predicted.<ref name="Morrison2004" />

In 2006 Toutatis came closer than 2&nbsp;AU to Jupiter; its orbit lies inside of Jupiter's.<ref name=jpl-close /> In the 2100s, it will approach Jupiter many times at a similar distance.<ref name=jpl-close />

<div style="white-space: nowrap">
{{Large near earth asteroid flybys 5LD}}
</div>

== Physical characteristics ==
{{multiple image
 |direction = horizontal
 |align     = right
 |width1    = 200
 |width2    = 250
 |image1    = Toutatis.jpg
 |image2    = Asteroid 4179 Toutatis.faces model.jpg
 |image3    =
 |caption1  = [[Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex|Goldstone]] [[radar astronomy|radar]] image (1996)
 |caption2  = Computer model of Toutatis 
 |caption3  = Toutatis 2012 
}}

Large amounts of data of Toutatis were obtained during [[Chang'e 2]]'s flyby. Toutatis is not a monolith, but most likely a coalescence of shattered fragments. This bifurcated asteroid is shown to be mainly consisting of a head (small lobe) and a body (large lobe). The two major parts are not round in shape, and their surfaces have a number of large facets. In comparison with radar models, the proximate observations from Chang'e 2's flyby have revealed several remarkable discoveries concerning Toutatis, among which the presence of the giant basin at the big end appears to be one of the most compelling geological features, and the sharply perpendicular silhouette in the neck region that connects the head and body is also quite novel. A large number of boulders and several short linear structures are also apparent on the surface.<ref name="nature1" />

=== Giant basin ===

The giant basin at the big end of Toutatis has a diameter of ~805&nbsp;m, suggesting that one or more impactors may have collided with it there. The most significant feature is the ridge around the largest basin. The wall of this basin has a relatively high density of lineaments, some of which seem to be concentric to the basin. These ridges are indicative of an internal structure of small bodies and most of the ridges near the largest basin at the big end are most likely related to the huge stress energy during impact.<ref name="nature1" />

{{clear}}

== Observation ==

Toutatis has been observed with radar imaging from the [[Arecibo Observatory]] and the [[Goldstone Solar System Radar]] during the asteroid's prior Earth flybys in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. It was also observed with radar during the December 2012 flyby and observed more distant flyby with radar in December 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/Toutatis2012/Toutatis2012_planning.html |title=2012 Goldstone Radar Observations of (4179) Toutatis |access-date=2012-11-15}}</ref> After 2016, Toutatis will not pass close to Earth again until 2069.<ref name=jpl-close />

Resolution of the radar images is as fine as 3.75&nbsp;m per pixel,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/12dec_toutatis/ |title=Big Asteroid Tumbles Harmlessly Past Earth |website=[[NASA]] |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> providing data to model Toutatis's shape and spin state.

== Exploration ==
[[File:Asteroid 4179 Toutatis.jpg|thumb|alt=Images of Toutatis taken by Chang'e 2 probe|Images of Toutatis taken by [[Chang'e 2]] probe]]

The Chinese lunar probe [[Chang'e 2]] departed from the Sun–Earth L2 point in April 2012<ref name="Lakdawalla" /> and made a flyby of Toutatis on 13 December 2012, with closest approach being 3.2&nbsp;kilometers and a relative velocity of 10.73&nbsp;km/s, when Toutatis was near its closest approach to Earth.<ref name="Lakdawalla20121214" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.projectpluto.com/pluto/mpecs/cheprob3.htm |title="Pseudo-MPEC" for 2010-050A = SM999CF = Chang'e 2 probe |access-date=2012-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cntv.cn/china/20121215/100850.shtml |title=[视频]"嫦娥二号"飞越探测小行星_新闻台_中国网络电视台 |publisher=News.cntv.cn |access-date=2014-06-25}}</ref> It took several pictures of the asteroid, revealing it to be a dusty red/orange color.

== See also ==
* [[List of asteroid close approaches to Earth]]
* [[List of minor planets and comets visited by spacecraft]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="jpldata">{{cite web
  |type       = 2017-05-27 last obs.
  |title      = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC)
  |url        = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2004179
  |publisher  = Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  |access-date = 2 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="springer">{{cite book
  |title      = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names{{Snd}} (4179) Toutatis
  |last       = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
  |publisher  = Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  |pages      = 357–358
  |date       = 2007
  |isbn       = 978-3-540-00238-3
  |doi        = 10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4150 |chapter       = (4179) Toutatis }}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web
  |title      = 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=4179
  |access-date = 2 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Hudson-2003">{{Cite journal
  |first1     = R. S. |last1 = Hudson
  |first2     = S. J. |last2 = Ostro
  |first3     = D. J. |last3 = Scheeres
  |date       = February 2003
  |title      = High-resolution model of Asteroid 4179 Toutatis
  |journal    = Icarus
  |volume     = 161
  |issue      = 2
  |pages      = 346–355
  |bibcode    = 2003Icar..161..346H
  |doi        = 10.1016/S0019-1035(02)00042-8
  |citeseerx  = 10.1.1.494.7779}}</ref>

<ref name="scheeres1998">{{Cite journal
  |first1     = D. J. |last1 = Scheeres
  |first2     = S. J. |last2 = Ostro
  |first3     = R. S. |last3 = Hudson
  |date       = March 1998
  |title      = Dynamics of Orbits Close to Asteroid 4179 Toutatis
  |journal    = Icarus
  |volume     = 132
  |issue      = 1
  |pages      = 53–79
  |doi        = 10.1006/icar.1997.5870|bibcode = 1998Icar..132...53S
 }}</ref>

<ref name="lcdb">{{cite web
  |title      = LCDB Data for (4179) Toutatis
  |publisher  = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
  |url        = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=4179%7CToutatis
  |access-date = 2 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="nature1">{{Cite journal|title=The Ginger-shaped Asteroid 4179 Toutatis: New Observations from a Successful Flyby of Chang'e-2 : Scientific Reports : Nature Publishing Group |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=3 |pages=3411 |doi=10.1038/srep03411 |pmid=24336501 |pmc=3860288 |year=2013 |last1=Huang |first1=Jiangchuan |last2=Ji |first2=Jianghui |last3=Ye |first3=Peijian |last4=Wang |first4=Xiaolei |last5=Yan |first5=Jun |last6=Meng |first6=Linzhi |last7=Wang |first7=Su |last8=Li |first8=Chunlai |last9=Li |first9=Yuan |last10=Qiao |first10=Dong |last11=Zhao |first11=Wei |last12=Zhao |first12=Yuhui |last13=Zhang |first13=Tingxin |last14=Liu |first14=Peng |last15=Jiang |first15=Yun |last16=Rao |first16=Wei |last17=Li |first17=Sheng |last18=Huang |first18=Changning |last19=Ip |first19=Wing-Huen |last20=Hu |first20=Shoucun |last21=Zhu |first21=Menghua |last22=Yu |first22=Liangliang |last23=Zou |first23=Yongliao |last24=Tang |first24=Xianglong |last25=Li |first25=Jianyang |last26=Zhao |first26=Haibin |last27=Huang |first27=Hao |last28=Jiang |first28=Xiaojun |last29=Bai |first29=Jinming |arxiv=1312.4329 |bibcode=2013NatSR...3E3411H }}</ref>

<ref name="neodys">{{cite web |title=NEODys (4179) Toutatis Close Approaches |publisher=Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy |url=https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?pc=1.1.8&n=Toutatis |access-date=2009-03-20}}</ref>

<ref name=jpl-close>{{cite web |type=2011-05-22 last obs (arc=77.28 years) |title=JPL Close-Approach Data: 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC) |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=Toutatis;cad=1#cad |access-date=2011-11-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AstDys-Toutatis2004">{{cite web |title=AstDys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides for 2004 |publisher=Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy |url=https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?pc=1.1.3.1&n=4179&oc=500&y0=2004&m0=9&d0=28&h0=0&mi0=0&y1=2004&m1=9&d1=30&h1=0&mi1=0&ti=1&tiu=hours |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-pg1">{{cite web |title=(4179) Toutatis = 1934 CT = 1989 AC |publisher=IAU Minor Planet Center |url=https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=4179&page=1 |access-date=2013-04-18}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC">{{cite web |title=(4179) Toutatis = 1934 CT = 1989 AC |publisher=IAU Minor Planet Center |url=https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=4179&page=4 |access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref>

<ref name="NEODys-Toutatis2012">{{cite web |title=NEODys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides for December 2012 |publisher=Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy |url=https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?pc=1.1.3.1&n=4179&oc=500&y0=2012&m0=12&d0=12&h0=0&mi0=0&y1=2012&m1=12&d1=19&h1=0&mi1=0&ti=3&tiu=hours |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

<ref name="AstDys-Toutatis2059">{{cite web |title=AstDys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides 2059 |publisher=Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy |url=https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?pc=1.1.3.1&n=4179&oc=500&y0=2059&m0=8&d0=31&h0=0&mi0=0&y1=2059&m1=9&d1=14&h1=0&mi1=0&ti=1.0&tiu=days |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

<ref name="resonance">{{cite web|date=2000-10-31 |title=Trick or Treat: It's Toutatis! |publisher=Science@Nasa |url=https://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast31oct_1.htm |access-date=2009-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129204315/https://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast31oct_1.htm |archive-date=29 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="gravsim">{{cite web |title=Toutatis is in a 3:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter (rotating frame) |publisher=Gravity Simulator |url=http://www.orbitsimulator.com/gravity/articles/toutatis.html |access-date=2009-01-27}}</ref>

<ref name=Whipple1993>{{cite journal |last=Whipple |first=L. |author2=Shelus, Peter J. |title=Long-Term Dynamical Evolution of the Minor Planet (4179) Toutatis |journal=Icarus |volume=105 |issue=2 |pages=408–419 |date=1993 |doi=10.1006/icar.1993.1137 |bibcode= 1993Icar..105..408W}}</ref>

<ref name=Ostro1998>{{cite journal |display-authors=4|last=Ostro |first=S. J. |author2=Hudson, R. S. |author3=Rosema, K. D. |author4=Giorgini, J. D. |author5=Winkler, R. |author6=Yeomans, D. K. |author7=Chodas, P. W. |author8=Slade, M. A. |title=Asteroid 4179 Toutatis: 1996 Radar Observations |journal=Icarus |volume=137 |issue=1 |pages=122–139 |date=1998 |hdl=2014/19433 |doi=10.1006/icar.1998.6031|bibcode = 1999Icar..137..122O |url=https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/2014/19433/1/98-0808.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922103331/https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/2014/19433/1/98-0808.pdf |archive-date=2017-09-22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Morrison2004">{{cite web |date=27 September 2004 |title=Close Flyby This Week from Asteroid Toutatis |publisher=Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards (NASA) |author=David Morrison |author-link=David Morrison (astrophysicist) |url=http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/news_detail.cfm?ID=151|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214220045/http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/news_detail.cfm?ID=151|archive-date=14 February 2013|url-status=dead |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref>

<ref name="transit">{{cite web|url=http://chemistry.unina.it/~alvitagl/solex/ |title=Solex by Aldo Vitagliano |access-date=2009-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220235836/http://chemistry.unina.it/~alvitagl/solex/ |archive-date=2008-12-20 }}</ref>

<ref name=baas39_416>{{Cite journal|last1=Bottke | first1=William Jr. |title=Implications of the YORP Effect for Our Understanding of Asteroid Evolution |journal=Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society |volume=39 |page=416 |bibcode=2007DPS....39.0507B |date=October 2007}}</ref>

<ref name=icarus158_2_305>{{Cite journal|last1=Mueller | first1=Béatrice E. A. |last2=Samarasinha |first2=Nalin H. |last3=Belton |first3=Michael J. S. |title=The Diagnosis of Complex Rotation in the Lightcurve of 4179 Toutatis and Potential Applications to Other Asteroids and Bare Cometary Nuclei |journal=Icarus |volume=158 |issue=2 |pages=305–311 |doi=10.1006/icar.2002.6892 | bibcode=2002Icar..158..305M |date=August 2002}}</ref>

<ref name="Lakdawalla">{{cite web |date=2012-06-14 |title=Chang'E 2 has departed Earth's neighborhood for.....asteroid Toutatis!? |publisher=[[The Planetary Society]] |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily | author-link = Emily Lakdawalla |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/20120614-change-2-toutatis.html |access-date=2012-11-15}}</ref>

<ref name="Lakdawalla20121214">{{cite web |date=2012-12-14 |title=Chang'E 2 imaging of Toutatis succeeded beyond my expectations! |publisher=[[The Planetary Society]] |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily | author-link = Emily Lakdawalla |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/12141551-change-2-imaging-of-toutatis.html |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

==External links==
{{Commons category|4179 Toutatis}}
* [http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/01200747-more-change-2-toutatis-flyby.html More Chang'E 2 Toutatis flyby images] (Emily Lakdawalla : 2013/01/20)
* [http://www.planetary.org/multimedia/space-images/small-bodies/change-2-images-of-toutatis.html Chang'E 2 images of Toutatis - 13 December 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229174345/https://www.planetary.org/multimedia/space-images/small-bodies/change-2-images-of-toutatis.html |date=29 February 2020 }} (Planetary Society)
* [http://news.cntv.cn/program/zdxwzx/20121215/102491.shtml CCTV13 Special] (all in Mandarin)
* [http://cosmicdiary.org/fmarchis/2012/12/14/change-successfully-imaged-toutatis/ China joined the interplanetary club by successfully imaging the asteroid Toutatis] ([[Franck Marchis]], 14 December 2012)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121217202207/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-12/15/c_132041953.htm Chinese space probe flies by asteroid Toutatis] (Xinhua 2012-12-15)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waH9zfEbNJs Surface Features of Asteroid Toutatis Revealed by Radar] (YouTube: JPLnews)
* [http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/Toutatis2012/Toutatis2012_planning.html Goldstone radar images from the 2012 flyby]
* [http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/4179_Toutatis/toutatis.html Toutatis radar information]
* [http://space.com/scienceastronomy/toutatis_video_040929.html Space.com: Video of Toutatis's close approach to Earth, 29 Sept, 2004]
* [http://www.solarviews.com/eng/toutatis.htm Interesting views of asteroid]
* [http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1219 Astrobiology Magazine article] (09/27/04)
* [http://www.orbitsimulator.com/gravity/articles/toutatis.html Simulating the orbit of Toutatis exposes its resonance with Jupiter] (Gravity Simulator)
* [http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/12061004-toutatis-preview.html Asteroid 4179 Toutatis' upcoming encounters with Earth and Chang'E 2] (Emily Lakdawalla 2012-12-06)
* [http://www.cplire.ru/html/ra&sr/sr/4179-Toutatis/index.html Six-Centimeter Radar Observations of 4179 Toutatis]
* [http://mikko.tuomela.net/scale/scale10.jpg Size comparison] ([https://mikkosmostlyharmless.blogspot.com/2010/11/scale-of-solar-system.html Source])
* [http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/jan2013/presentations/sbag8_presentations/TUES_0930_CE_Toutatis.pdf Chang'e 2 fly-by of Toutatis] Presentation from Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) 8 meeting
* [https://arxiv.org/abs/1511.00766 Boulders on asteroid Toutatis as observed by Chang'e-2] ([[arXiv]]:1511.00766 : 3 Nov 2015)
* {{AstDys|4179}}
* {{ESA-SSA|4179|Toutatis}}
* {{JPL small body}}

{{Minor planets navigator |(4178) 1988 EO1 |number=4179 |4180 Anaxagoras}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toutatis}}
[[Category:Apollo asteroids|004179]]
[[Category:Alinda asteroids|004179]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Christian Pollas]]
[[Category:Named minor planets]]
[[Category:Potentially hazardous asteroids|004179]]
[[Category:Radar-imaged asteroids|004179]]
[[Category:Minor planets visited by spacecraft|20121213]]
[[Category:Slow rotating minor planets|004179]]
[[Category:Sk-type asteroids (SMASS)|004179]]
[[Category:Near-Earth objects in 2012|20121212]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1989|19890104]]