246 Asporina

Summary

Asporina (minor planet designation: 246 Asporina) is a sizeable main-belt asteroid. It is classified as one of the few A-type asteroids.

246 Asporina
3D model based on lightcurve data
Discovery
Discovered byA. Borrelly
Discovery date6 March 1885
Designations
(246) Asporina
Named after
Asporina
A885 EA
Main belt
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc130.96 yr (47834 d)
Aphelion2.98941 AU (447.209 Gm)
Perihelion2.39768 AU (358.688 Gm)
2.69355 AU (402.949 Gm)
Eccentricity0.10984
4.42 yr (1614.7 d)
18.14 km/s
172.414°
0° 13m 22.638s / day
Inclination15.6259°
162.347°
96.6218°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions60.10±4.2 km
16.222 h (0.6759 d)
0.1744±0.027
R
8.62

It was discovered by A. Borrelly on 6 March 1885 in Marseilles and was named after Asporina, a goddess worshipped on Mount Asporenus, Asia Minor.[2]

The spectrum of 246 Asporina reveals the strong presence of the mineral olivine, a relative rarity in the asteroid belt.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "246 Asporina". JPL Small-Body Database. NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz (5 August 2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783540002383 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Burbine, T. H.; et al. (July 2000), "The Nature of Olivine Asteroids", Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 35, pp. A35, Bibcode:2000M&PSA..35R..35B, doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2000.tb01796.x.

External links edit

  • The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database
  • Minor Planet Discovery Circumstances
  • Asteroid Lightcurve Data File
  • 246 Asporina at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
    • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
  • 246 Asporina at the JPL Small-Body Database  
    • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters