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The first known asteroid with the orbit inside that of Venus is2020~AV$_{2}$. This may be the largest member of a new population of smallbodies with the aphelion smaller than 0.718~au, called Vatiras. The surface of2020~AV$_{2}$ is being constantly modified by the high temperature, by thestrong solar wind irradiation that characterizes the innermost region of theSolar system, and by high-energy micrometeorite impacts. The study of itsphysical properties represents an extreme test-case for the science ofnear-Earth asteroids. Here, we report spectroscopic observations of2020~AV$_{2}$ in the 0.5-1.5~$\mu m$ wavelength interval. These were performedwith the Nordic Optical Telescope and the William Herschel Telescope. Based onthe obtained spectra, we classify 2020~AV$_{2}$ as a Sa-type asteroid. Weestimate the diameter of this Vatira to be $1.50_{-0.65}^{+1.10}$ km byconsidering the average albedo of A-type and S-complex asteroids($p_V=0.23_{-0.08}^{+0.11}$), and the absolute magnitude (H=$16.40\pm0.78$mag). The wide spectral band around 1~$\mu m$ shows the signature of an olivinerich composition. The estimated band centre $BIC = 1.08 \pm 0.02~\mu m$corresponds to a ferroan olivine mineralogy similar to that of brachinitemeteorites.

Physical characterization of 2020 AV2, the first known asteroid orbiting inside Venus orbit