Astronomy:9949 Brontosaurus

From HandWiki
9949 Brontosaurus
AnimatedOrbitOf9949Brontosaurus.gif
Orbit of Brontosaurus (blue), with the inner planets and Jupiter (outermost)
Discovery [1]
Discovered byE. W. Elst
Discovery siteLa Silla Obs.
Discovery date22 September 1990
Designations
(9949) Brontosaurus
Pronunciation/ˌbrɒntəˈsɔːrəs/[4]
Named afterBrontosaurus
(sauropod dinosaur)[2]
1990 SK6 · 1978 GT1
1985 DM1 · 1992 BS
Minor planet categorymain-belt [1][3] · (inner)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc38.98 yr (14,236 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.4982 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.2105 AU
2.3544 AU
Eccentricity0.0611
Orbital period3.61 yr (1,319 days)
Mean anomaly322.53°
Mean motion0° 16m 22.08s / day
Inclination7.7036°
Longitude of ascending node29.841°
174.63°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions4.231±0.086 km[5]
17 km[6]
Geometric albedo0.248±0.010[5]
Absolute magnitude (H)13.8[1]


9949 Brontosaurus, provisional designation 1990 SK6, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, roughly 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 September 1990, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.[3] It was named after Brontosaurus, a genus of dinosaurs.[2]

Orbit and classification

Brontosaurus orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.2–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,319 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It was first identified as 1978 GT1 at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1978, extending the body's observation arc by 12 years prior to its official discovery observation at La Silla.[3]

Physical characteristics

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, Brontosaurus measures 17 and 4.231 kilometers in diameter, respectively.[5][6] WISE/NEOWISE also gives an albedo of 0.248 for the body's surface.[5] It has an absolute magnitude of 13.8.[1]

Rotation period

As of 2017, the asteroid's rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][7]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Brontosaurus, a gigantic quadruped sauropod dinosaurs, which walked on all four legs and lived in the Upper Jurassic. Adult individuals measured up to 20 meters and had a weight of up to 20 tons. Many Fossils have been found in the United States. Brontosaurus is one of the best-known dinosaurs.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 November 2002 (M.P.C. 47166).[8]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 9949 Brontosaurus (1990 SK6)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2009949. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(9949) Brontosaurus". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (9949) Brontosaurus. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 714. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_7766. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "9949 Brontosaurus (1990 SK6)". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=9949. 
  4. Brontosaurus (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, September 2005, http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=Brontosaurus  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J. et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal 741 (2): 20. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Bibcode2011ApJ...741...68M. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2011ApJ...741...68M. Retrieved 17 March 2017. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Tedesco E.F.; Noah P.V.. "The supplemental IRAS minor planet survey (SIMPS)". http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1538-3881/123/2/1056/FP206.txt?request-id=ZkkEm1jA3BGTV3i82wi7Kg. 
  7. "LCDB Data for (9949) Brontosaurus". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=9949%7CBrontosaurus. 
  8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html. 

External links