Astronomy:5381 Sekhmet

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Short description: Asteroid
5381 Sekhmet
Discovery [1]
Discovered byC. S. Shoemaker
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date14 May 1991
Designations
(5381) Sekhmet
Pronunciation/ˈsɛkmɛt/[3]
Named afterSekhmet
(Egyptian mythology)[2]
1991 JY
Minor planet categoryAten · NEO
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc24.00 yr (8,765 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}1.2281 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}0.6667 AU
0.9474 AU
Eccentricity0.2962
Orbital period0.92 yr (337 days)
Mean anomaly165.44°
Inclination48.968°
Longitude of ascending node58.546°
37.429°
Earth MOID0.1123 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter1.42 km[4]
Rotation period2.8233 h
S[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)16.6[1]


5381 Sekhmet is an Aten asteroid whose orbit is sometimes closer to the Sun than the Earth's. Carolyn Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory discovered it on 14 May 1991. It is named after Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war.[2]

Sekhmet is believed to be an S-type asteroid, and some believe its diameter is approximately 1.4 km.[4][5]

In December 2003, a team of astronomers at Arecibo Observatory announced that the asteroid may have a moon that measures 300 m in diameter and orbits approximately 1.5 km from Sekhmet.[5] This moon is not yet confirmed.

References

External links