Astronomy:376 Geometria

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376 Geometria
A three-dimensional model of 376 Geometria based on its light curve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byAuguste Charlois
Discovery siteNice Observatory
Discovery date18 September 1893
Designations
(376) Geometria
Pronunciation/ˌəˈmɛtriə, iə-/
Named aftergeometry
A893 SC · 1950 BQ1 · 1954 BJ[2][lower-alpha 1]
Minor planet categoryMain belt
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc126.70 yr (46278 d)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.68253 astronomical unit|AU (401.301 Gm)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}1.89377 AU (283.304 Gm)
2.28815 AU (342.302 Gm)
Eccentricity0.172358
Orbital period3.46126 yr (1264.23 d)
Mean anomaly151.513°
Mean motion0° 17m 5.132s / day
Inclination5.43065°
Longitude of ascending node301.948°
316.527°
Jupiter MOID2.3929 AU (357.97 Gm)
TJupiter3.575
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter35.465 km[2]
Sidereal rotation period7.7274600 ± 9.6×10−6 h (0.3219775 ± 0.0000004 d)[4]: 333 
Pole ecliptic latitude−22± or −35±[4]: 333 
Pole ecliptic longitude57± or 240±[4]: 333 
Geometric albedo0.321[2]
S (Tholen)
SI (SMASSII)[2]
Absolute magnitude (H)9.49


376 Geometria is an asteroid located within the main asteroid belt that was discovered by French astronomer Auguste Charlois on 18 September 1893 in Nice, France. It is classified as an S-type asteroid.[5] It is about 35.5 kilometres (22.1 mi) in size and has a rotation period of 7.73 hours.

History

Geometria was discovered by astronomer Auguste Charlois on 18 September 1893 at Nice Observatory.[1] Upon its discovery, it was given the old-style provisional designation 1893 AM, and by the next year it was assigned the permanent number (376).[3]: 241  On 23 August 1901,[6] it was named Geometria after the Latin word geometria, referring to the field of geometry.[7]: 44  Its name was announced by Johann Bauschinger alongside those of 33 other minor planets on the journal Astronomische Nachrichten, with the names having been selected by the Astronomical Calculation Institute.[7]: 43 

In 1925, the old-style minor planet provisional designation scheme was replaced by the system currently in use. The Minor Planet Center (MPC) has since retroactively replaced old-style designations with new-style designations.[8] Thus, Geometria's provisional designation given upon its discovery was replaced by A893 SC.[2]

Orbit

Geometria orbits the Sun at an average distance—its semi-major axis—of 2.29 astronomical units (AU), taking 3.46 years to complete one revolution. Along its orbit, its distance from the Sun varies between 1.89 AU at perihelion to 2.68 AU at aphelion due to its orbital eccentricity of 0.17. Its orbit is inclined by 5.43° with respect to the ecliptic plane.[2]

Physical characteristics

Geometria has an estimated diameter of 35.5 kilometres (22.1 mi),[2] with a roughly spherical shape.[4]: 335  It is classified as an S-type asteroid in the Tholen classification scheme and an SI-type asteroid in the Small Main-belt Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey, Phase II (SMASSII) classification scheme. It has a geometric albedo of 0.321.[2]

Observations of Geometria's lightcurve, or variations in its observed brightness, show that it has a rotation period of 7.73 hours, accurately measured to within 0.035 seconds. It has a retrograde rotation, rotating backwards relative to its orbital direction with its rotational pole pointed towards the ecliptic south.[4]: 333  Determinations of Geometria's rotation period remained relatively consistent in the past, with 1983 observations from the Observatoire de Haute-Provence yielding a period of 7.74±0.02 hours and observations taken in November 1994 yielding a period of 7.734 hours.[5][4]: 332–333  However, past attempts at determining Geometria's spin orientation were ambiguous.[4]: 335 

Notes

  1. The MPC notates Geometria's retroactively applied designation as 1893 SC.[1] Its old-style designation was 1893 AM.[3]: 241 

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "(376) Geometria = 1893 SC = 1950 BQ1 = 1954 BJ". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=376.  (7708 obs)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Yeomans, Donald K., "376 Geometria", JPL Small-Body Database Browser (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=376, retrieved 23 November 2025. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Notes on some Points connected with the Progress of Astronomy during the Past Year". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 54 (4): 240–267. 9 February 1894. doi:10.1093/mnras/54.4.240. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Michałowski, T. (November 2005). "Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids. II. 173 Ino, 376 Geometria, and 451 Patientia". Astronomy and Astrophysics 443 (1): 329–335. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20053656. Bibcode2005A&A...443..329M. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Barucci, M. A.; di Martino, M. (July 1984), "Rotational rates of very small asteroids - 123 Brunhild, 376 Geometria, 437 Rhodia and 1224 Fantasia", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series 57: pp. 103–106, Bibcode1984A&AS...57..103B. 
  6. Bauschinger, J. (23 August 1901). "Benennung von kleinen Planeten" (in German). Astronomische Nachrichten 156: 239. doi:10.1002/asna.19011561520. Bibcode1901AN....156..239B. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. 2 (6 ed.). Springer Berlin, Heidelberg. 11 November 2013. pp. 1452. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-29718-2. ISBN 978-3-642-29717-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=eHv1CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA70. 
  8. "Provisional Designations". Minor Planets Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpcops/documentation/provisional-designation-definition/#oldstyle_provid.