1218 Aster, provisional designation 1932 BJ, is a bright asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5.5 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by Karl Reinmuth in 1932, it was later named after the flowering plant Aster.
_Aster.png) Shape model of Aster from its lightcurve | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | K. Reinmuth |
| Discovery site | Heidelberg Obs. |
| Discovery date | 29 January 1932 |
| Designations | |
| (1218) Aster | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæstər/[2] |
Named after | Aster (genus of flowers)[3] |
| 1932 BJ · 1978 TJ5 1978 VQ12 | |
| main-belt · (inner) | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 85.35 yr (31,173 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.5110 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.0158 AU |
| 2.2634 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1094 |
| 3.41 yr (1,244 days) | |
| 56.714° | |
| 0° 17m 21.84s / day | |
| Inclination | 3.1572° |
| 63.820° | |
| 69.372° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 5.554±0.084 km[4] |
| 0.332±0.043[4] | |
| 13.2[1] | |
Discovery
editAster was discovered on 29 January 1932, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.[5] Two nights later, it was independently discovered by Italian astronomer Mario A. Ferrero at the Pino Torinese Observatory at Turin, Italy.[3]
Classification and orbit
editAster orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,244 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The asteroid's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory, one week after its official discovery observation.[5]
Physical characteristics
editDiameter and albedo
editAccording to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Aster measures 5.554 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.332.[4]
Lightcurves
editAs of 2017, rotational lightcurve of Aster has been obtained.[6] The body's rotation period, shape and variation in magnitude shifted from unknown movements[1][7] to specific identifiable spin/shape determinations.
Naming
editThe minor planet was named after the genus of flowers, Aster (also see List of minor planets named after animals and plants § Plants). The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 113).[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1218 Aster (1932 BJ)" (2017-06-04 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "aster". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
- ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1218) Aster". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1218) Aster. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 101. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1219. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ a b c 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. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ a b "1218 Aster (1932 BJ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ Minor Planet Lightcurve Data, Organ Mesa Observatory. "Asteroid Lightcurve Research 1218 Aster Phased Plot". Fred Pilcher's Minor Planet Lightcurves. Astronomical Society of Las Cruces (ASLC). Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "LCDB Data for (1218) Aster". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 23 July 2017.
External links
edit- 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
- 1218 Aster at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 1218 Aster at the JPL Small-Body Database
