Astronomy:2703 Rodari

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2703 Rodari
Discovery[1]
Discovered byNikolai Chernykh
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Observatory
Discovery date29 March 1979
Designations
(2703) Rodari
Named afterGianni Rodari
1976 MN · 1979 FT2 · 1979 GU
Minor planet categoryMain belt
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.31946 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.06736 AU
2.19341
Eccentricity0.05746
Orbital period3.24854 y (1186.53 d)
Mean anomaly111.348°
Mean motion0.30341° / d
Inclination6.03283°
Longitude of ascending node49.3864°
171.785°
Jupiter MOID2.64616 AU
TJupiter3.661
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter7.63 km[3]: 876 
Sidereal rotation period5.5 h[4]: 2250 
S-type[3]: 876 
Absolute magnitude (H)13.66[2]


2703 Rodari (provisional designation 1979 FT2) is an asteroid located in the main asteroid belt. Discovered by Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory on 29 March 1979, it was named in honor of Italian journalist and children's author Gianni Rodari by the Minor Planet Center (MPC). It is 7.63 kilometres (4.74 mi) in size and classified as a stony S-type asteroid. From 1996 to 1999, it was briefly considered as a target for the European Space Agency's Rosetta comet probe, though the agency eventually dropped it in favor of alternative main-belt targets.

Discovery and naming

Rodari was discovered on 29 March 1979 by astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, with the object receiving the provisional designation 1979 FT2 from the Minor Planet Center (MPC).[1][5]: 47  It was later given the number (2703), and on 2 July 1985 the MPC named it Rodari in memory of Gianni Rodari (1920–1980).[6]: 52  Gianni Rodari was an Italian writer and journalist who wrote 25 works of children's literature, winning the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1970 for his contributions as a children's author.[7]: 42–43 

Orbit

Diagram showing Rodari's orbit between Mars and Jupiter

Rodari orbits the Sun at an average distance—its semi-major axis—of 2.19 astronomical units (AU), placing it in the main asteroid belt. Along its 3.25 year long orbit, its distance from the Sun varies between 2.07 AU at perihelion to 2.32 AU at aphelion due to its orbital eccentricity of 0.06. Its orbit is inclined by 6.03° with respect to the ecliptic plane.[2]

Physical characteristics

Rodari is estimated to be 7.63 kilometres (4.74 mi) in size, and is classified as a stony S-type asteroid.[3]: 876  Observations of Rodari's lightcurve, or variations in its observed brightness, show that it is quite asymmetric, complicating the determination of its rotation period. Nevertheless, analysis by a team of astronomers led by Claudia A. Angeli and published in 2001 revealed that it has a rotation period of about 5.5 hours.[4]: 2250 

Exploration

Rodari was chosen as the second flyby target for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta mission in 1996, replacing 2530 Shipka to conserve delta-v. Under the 1996 mission baseline, Rosetta would have encountered Rodari on 5 April 2008 following an earlier encounter with 3840 Mimistrobell in 2006. It would then continue en route to comet 46P/Wirtanen.[8]: 1  However, the ESA again changed Rosetta's targets in 1999, dropping Rodari and Mimistrobell in favor of 140 Siwa and 4979 Otawara as they viewed Siwa as more scientifically interesting.[9]: 71  Originally planned to launch on 12 January 2003, Rosetta missed both targets and 46P/Wirtanen due to issues with the Ariane 5 rocket.[10] It launched in 2004, visiting 2867 Šteins, 21 Lutetia, and its primary target 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "(2703) Rodari = 1979 FT2 = 1976 MN = 1979 GU". Minor Planet Center. https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2703.  (4509 obs)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "JPL Small-Body Database Lookup: 2703 Rodari (1979 FT2)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2703. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rossi, A.; Fulchignoni, M. (June 1999). "Study of the environment around the Rosetta candidate target asteroids". Planetary and Space Science 47 (6–7): 873–881. doi:10.1016/S0032-0633(98)00109-3. Bibcode: 1999P&SS...47..873R. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Angeli, C. A.; Guimarães, T. A.; Lazzaro, D.; Duffard, R.; Fernández, S.; Florczak, M.; Mothé-Diniz, T.; Carvano, J. M. et al. (April 2001). "Rotation Periods for Small Main-Belt Asteroids From CCD Photometry". The Astronomical Journal 121 (4): 2245–2252. doi:10.1086/319936. Bibcode: 2001AJ....121.2245A. 
  5. ↑ "M. P. C. 6345–6424". Minor Planet Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 13 October 1981. https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1981/MPC_19811013.pdf. Retrieved 15 November 2025. 
  6. ↑ "M. P. C. 9717–9810". Minor Planet Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 2 July 1985. https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1985/MPC_19850702.pdf. Retrieved 15 November 2025. 
  7. ↑ Glistrup, Eva (2002). The Hans Christian Andersen Awards, 1956–2002. International Board on Books for Young People. https://www.ibby.org/subnavigation/archives/flipbook?tx_archive_archivelist%5Baction%5D=show&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Publication&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bpublication%5D=4&cHash=572fd5aef5fbab8a9156d6d9571ac598. Retrieved 15 November 2025. 
  8. ↑ Barucci, M. Antonietta; Doressoundiram, Alain; Fulchignoni, Marcello; Florczak, Marcos; Lazzarin, Monica; Angeli, Claudia (January 1998). "Compositional type characterization of Rosetta asteroid candidates". Planetary and Space Science 46 (1): 75–82. doi:10.1016/S0032-0633(97)00128-1. Bibcode: 1998P&SS...46...75B. 
  9. ↑ L. Colangeli; E. M. Epifani; P. Palumbo (2004). The New Rosetta Targets: Observations, Simulations and Instrument Performances (1st ed.). Springer Dordrecht. pp. 71–72. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-2573-0. ISBN 978-1-4020-2573-0. 
  10. ↑ Schilling, Govert (14 January 2003). "Rosetta Probe Won't Launch". Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/rosetta-probe-wont-launch. 
  11. ↑ "Steins: A diamond in the sky". ESA. 6 September 2008. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Steins_A_diamond_in_the_sky. 
  12. ↑ "Rosetta triumphs at asteroid Lutetia". ESA. 10 July 2010. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_triumphs_at_asteroid_Lutetia. 



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