Astronomy:24626 Astrowizard

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24626 Astrowizard
Discovery [1]
Discovered byC. S. Shoemaker
E. M. Shoemaker
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date9 October 1980
Designations
(24626) Astrowizard
Named afterDavid V. Rodrigues [2]
(astronomy communicator)
1980 TS3 · 1998 ML13
2000 AA181
Minor planet categorymain-belt · (middle)
background[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc37.22 yr (13,594 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}3.5616 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}1.9814 AU
2.7715 AU
Eccentricity0.2851
Orbital period4.61 yr (1,685 days)
Mean anomaly349.96°
Mean motion0° 12m 48.96s / day
Inclination8.2050°
Longitude of ascending node183.08°
203.27°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter6.528±0.594 km[4]
Geometric albedo0.072±0.011[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)14.2[1]


24626 Astrowizard (provisional designation 1980 TS3) is a dark background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 October 1980, by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States.[2] The asteroid was named for American science educator David Rodrigues, who would perform at public events as "The Astro Wizard".[2]

Orbit and classification

Astrowizard is a non-family from the main belt's background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.0–3.6 AU once every 4 years and 7 months (1,685 days; semi-major axis of 2.77 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.29 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The body's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory just two nights prior to its official discovery observation.[2]

Physical characteristics

Based on its geometric albedo of 0.072,[4] Astrowizard is possibly a carbonaceous C-type asteroid.

Rotation period

As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Astrowizard has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[1][5]

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Astrowizard measures 6.528 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.072.[4]

Naming

This minor planet was named by the discoverers after David V. Rodrigues (born 1952), an American astronomical lecturer at the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. He is known for his educational outreach on astronomy to the public and school children, wearing a wizard costume.

The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 May 2003 (M.P.C. 48396).[6]

References

External links