Astronomy:550 Senta

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550 Senta
550Senta (Lightcurve Inversion).png
A three-dimensional model of 550 Senta based on its light curve
Discovery
Discovered byMax Wolf
Discovery siteHeidelberg
Discovery date16 November 1904
Designations
(550) Senta
PronunciationGerman: [ˈzɛntaː]
1904 PL
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc115.33 yr (42124 d)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}3.1653 astronomical unit|AU (473.52 Gm)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.0115 AU (300.92 Gm)
2.5884 AU (387.22 Gm)
Eccentricity0.22287
Orbital period4.16 yr (1521.1 d)
Mean anomaly17.4133°
Mean motion0° 14m 12.012s / day
Inclination10.108°
Longitude of ascending node270.702°
45.342°
Physical characteristics
Mean radius18.875±1.9 km
Rotation period20.555 h (0.8565 d)[1][2]
Geometric albedo0.2215±0.052
Absolute magnitude (H)9.37


Senta (minor planet designation: 550 Senta) is a minor planet orbiting the Sun that was discovered by German astronomer Max Wolf on 16 November 1904, from Heidelberg.

Photometric observations of this asteroid made at the Torino Observatory in Italy during 1990–1991 were used to determine a synodic rotation period of 20.555 ± 0.01 hours.[2]

In light of Max Wolf's propensity around the time of discovery to name asteroids after operatic heroines, it is likely that the asteroid is named after Senta, the heroine of Richard Wagner's opera The Flying Dutchman.[citation needed]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Yeomans, Donald K., "550 Senta", JPL Small-Body Database Browser (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=550, retrieved 5 May 2016. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 di Martino, M. et al. (February 1994), "Lightcurves and rotational periods of nine main belt asteroids", Icarus 107 (2): 269–275, doi:10.1006/icar.1994.1022, Bibcode1994Icar..107..269D. 

External links