2121 Sevastopol

Summary

2121 Sevastopol, provisional designation 1971 ME, is a stony Florian asteroid and synchronous binary system from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 June 1971, by Russian astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean peninsula.[7] Its minor-planet moon was discovered in 2010.

2121 Sevastopol
Discovery [1]
Discovered byT. Smirnova
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Obs.
Discovery date27 June 1971
Designations
(2121) Sevastopol
Pronunciation/səˈvæstəpl/[2]
Named after
Sevastopol city[3]
1971 ME · 1932 HM
1936 WD · 1938 DY
1939 TO · 1952 SZ
1968 QJ1 · 1977 ED2
1978 WG
main-belt · Flora[4]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc79.82 yr (29,154 days)
Aphelion2.5731 AU
Perihelion1.7945 AU
2.1838 AU
Eccentricity0.1783
3.23 yr (1,179 days)
94.889°
0° 18m 19.44s / day
Inclination4.3780°
145.72°
160.38°
Known satellites1[4][5]
Physical characteristics
Dimensions8.736±0.037 km[6]
12.48 km (calculated)[4]
2.90640 h[4]
0.24 (assumed)[4]
0.308±0.023[6]
S[4]
12.2
S/2010 (2121) 1
Discovery
Discovered byD. Higgins, P. Pravec, P. Kusnirak, J. Pollock, J. Oey, M. Husarik, G. Cervak, D. E. Reichart, K. M. Ivarsen, J. B. Haislip, and A. LaCluyze
Discovery date2010/07/23
Light curve
Orbital characteristics
26 km
1.546 d
13 hours, 6 minutes
46 mas (maximum)
Satellite of2121 Sevastopol
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.54 ± 0.17 km
Volume20.0-26.7 km3 (assumed)
1.9 ± 0.1 fainter than primary
~16.1

Orbit and characterization edit

Sevastopol is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,179 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Satellite edit

In 2010, a minor-planet moon, designated S/2010 (2121) 1, was discovered around Sevastopol, orbiting at a distance of 26 kilometers with a diameter of 3.54 ± 0.17 km.[5]

Naming edit

The asteroid was named after the Crimean city on the 200th anniversary of its foundation.[3] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 January 1983 (M.P.C. 7616).[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)" (2016-09-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Sevastopol". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
  3. ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2121) Sevastopol". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2121) Sevastopol. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 172. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2122. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (2121) Sevastopol". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b Johnston, Robert. "(2121) Sevastopol". johnstonsarchive.net. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. S2CID 119293330. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  7. ^ "2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  8. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

External links edit

  • Asteroids with Satellites, Robert Johnston, johnstonsarchive.net
  • Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
  • Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
  • Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
  • Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
  • 2121 Sevastopol at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
    • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
  • 2121 Sevastopol at the JPL Small-Body Database  
    • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters