1247 Memoria, provisional designation 1932 QA, is a dark Themistian asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 37 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Marguerite Laugier at Uccle Observatory in 1932, who later named it Memoria in memory of her pleasant stay at the discovering observatory.

1247 Memoria
Discovery[1]
Discovered byM. Laugier
Discovery siteUccle Obs.
Discovery date30 August 1932
Designations
(1247) Memoria
Pronunciation/mɪˈmɔːriə/[2]
Named after
memoria[3]
(Latin for memory; remembrance)
1932 QA · 1927 UL
1931 JU · 1936 FN
A905 WA
main-belt · (outer)
Themis[4]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc112.03 yr (40,920 days)
Aphelion3.6792 AU
Perihelion2.5851 AU
3.1321 AU
Eccentricity0.1747
5.54 yr (2,025 days)
130.45°
0° 10m 40.08s / day
Inclination1.7780°
161.73°
139.43°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions35.97±1.9 km[5]
38.906±0.174 km[6]
0.078±0.014[7]
0.0846±0.009[5]
Tholen = CXF[1]
B–V = 0.680[1]
U–B = 0.290[1]
10.52[1]

Discovery

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Memoria was discovered on 30 August 1932, by French astronomer Marguerite Laugier at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Uccle.[8] On the same night, it was independently discovered by Soviet astronomer Grigory Neujmin at the Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula. One week later, on 6 September 1932, it was again independently discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory.[3] The Minor Planet Center only recognizes the first discoverer.[8]

Orbit and classification

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Memoria belongs to the Themis family (602), a very large family of typically carbonaceous asteroids, named after 24 Themis.[4][9]: 23  It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.6–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 6 months (2,025 days; semi-major axis of 3.13 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The asteroid was first observed as A905 WA at Heidelberg Observatory in November 1905. The body's observation arc begins as 1931 JU at Johannesburg Observatory in May 1931, or 15 months prior to its official discovery observation at Uccle.[8]

Physical characteristics

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In the Tholen classification, Memoria's spectral type is ambiguous, closest to a carbonaceous C-type, and somewhat similar to an X- and F-type asteroid (CXF).[1] The overall spectral type for members of the Themis family is that of a C-type.[9]: 23 

Rotation period

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As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Memoria has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, shape and poles remain unknown.[1][10]

Diameter and albedo

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According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Memoria measures 35.97 and 38.906 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.0846 and 0.078, respectively.[6][7]

Naming

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This minor planet was named "memoria" (Latin for memory or remembrance) by the French discoverer Marguerite Laugier who remembered the pleasant relationships she had during her stay at the discovering Uccle Observatory, Belgium, in 1932. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 115).[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1247 Memoria (1932 QA)" (2017-12-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ^ "memoria technica". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  3. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(1247) Memoria". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 103. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1248. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  4. ^ a b "Asteroid 1247 Memoria – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  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.
  7. ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "1247 Memoria (1932 QA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
  10. ^ "LCDB Data for (1247) Memoria". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 3 January 2018.
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