Astronomy:9902 Kirkpatrick

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9902 Kirkpatrick
AnimatedOrbitOf9902Kirkpatrick.gif
Orbit of Kirkpatrick (blue), with the inner planets and Jupiter (outermost)
Discovery [1]
Discovered byP. G. Comba
Discovery sitePrescott Obs.
Discovery date3 July 1997
Designations
(9902) Kirkpatrick
Named afterRalph Kirkpatrick
(musician, musicologist)[2]
1997 NY · 1988 XS4
1994 RK29 · 1996 EJ16
Minor planet categorymain-belt [1][3] · (inner)
Flora
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc28.48 yr (10,401 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.3935 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.0276 AU
2.2105 AU
Eccentricity0.0828
Orbital period3.29 yr (1,200 days)
Mean anomaly254.92°
Mean motion0° 17m 59.64s / day
Inclination5.3167°
Longitude of ascending node274.37°
176.19°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.611±0.166 km[4]
17.8 km[5]
Geometric albedo0.179±0.022[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)14.4[1]


9902 Kirkpatrick, provisional designation 1997 NY, is a Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. The asteroid was discovered on 3 July 1997, by American amateur astronomer Paul Comba at Prescott Observatory in Arizona, United States, and named after American musician Ralph Kirkpatrick.[3]

Orbit and classification

Kirkpatrick is a member of the Flora family. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.4 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,200 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It was first identified as 1988 XS4 at El Leoncito in 1988, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 9 years prior to its official discovery at Prescott.[3]

Physical characteristics

Rotation period

As of 2017, the asteroid's rotation period and shape remain unknown.[6]

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Kirkpatrick measures 17.8 and 3.611 kilometers in diameter, respectively.[4][5] WISE/NEOWISE also gives an albedo of 0.179 for the body's surface.[4] It has an absolute magnitude of 14.4.[1]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Ralph Kirkpatrick (1911–1984), an American musician, musicologist and harpsichordist. He has written a biography of Domenico Scarlatti and published a chronological catalog of his keyboard sonatas (also see 6480 Scarlatti). Kirkpatrick studied 17th and 18th century performance practices in chamber music and gave concerts playing the works by Scarlatti and Bach (also see 1814 Bach).[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 2 April 1999 (M.P.C. 34356).[7]

References

External links