100000_Astronautica

100000 Astronautica

100000 Astronautica

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100000 Astronautica (provisional designation 1982 SH1) is a sub-kilometer asteroid and member of the Hungaria family from the innermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 940 meters (0.58 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 28 September 1982, by American astronomer James Gibson at Palomar Observatory, California, United States. The likely bright E-type asteroid was named Astronautica, the Latin word for "star sailor", on the 50th anniversary of the Space Age.[1]

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Orbit and classification

Astronautica is a core member of the Hungaria family (003),[4][5] an asteroid family and dynamical group, which forms the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun in the inner asteroid belt at a distance of 1.7–2.1 AU once every 2 years and 8 months (960 days; semi-major axis of 1.9 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 21° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The body's observation arc begins with its discovery observation at Palomar Observatory in September 1982.[1]

Naming

This minor planet marked the milestone of the 100,000th numbered minor planet in October 2005.[8] It was named by the International Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature to recognize the 50th anniversary of the start of the Space Age, as marked by the launch of the Soviet Sputnik spacecraft into orbit on 4 October 1957. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 26 September 2007 (M.P.C. 60731).[9] The number 100,000 is significant because it marks the altitude in meters where outer space begins, as delineated by the Kármán line established by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. The name "Astronautica" is Latin for "star sailor".[2][8]

Physical characteristics

Most members of the Hungaria family are E-type asteroids, which means they have extremely bright enstatite surfaces and albedos typically around 0.35.[7] Based on the body's estimated albedo and its absolute magnitude of 16.9,[1][3] Astronautica measures approximately 940 meters (0.58 miles) in diameter.[6] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Astronautica has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[3][10]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "100000 Astronautica (1982 SH1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  2. [2]
    Aguilar, David A.; Pulliam, Christine (9 October 2007). "Asteroid Named in Honor of 50th Anniversary of the Space Age". Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. [3]
    "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 100000 Astronautica (1982 SH1)" (2018-04-23 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Asteroid 100000 Astronautica". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  5. [5]
    "Asteroid (100000) Astronautica". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  6. [6]
    "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  7. [7]
    Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
  8. [8]
    Tichá, Jana; Marsden, Brian G.; Bowell, Edward L. G.; Williams, Iwan P.; Marsden, Brian G.; Green, Daniel W. E.; et al. (December 2008). "Division III / Working Group Committee on Small Bodies Nomenclature". Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. 4 (27A): 187–189. Bibcode:2009IAUTA..27..187T. doi:10.1017/S1743921308025489.
  9. [9]
    "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  10. [10]
    "LCDB Data for (100000) Astronautica". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 4 December 2018.
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