2121_Sevastopol

2121 Sevastopol

2121 Sevastopol

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2121 Sevastopol, provisional designation 1971 ME, is a stony Florian asteroid and synchronous binary system from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 June 1971, by Russian astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean peninsula.[7] Its minor-planet moon was discovered in 2010.

Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...

Orbit and characterization

Sevastopol is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,179 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Satellite

In 2010, a minor-planet moon, designated S/2010 (2121) 1, was discovered around Sevastopol, orbiting at a distance of 26 kilometers with a diameter of 3.54 ± 0.17 km.[5]

Naming

The asteroid was named after the Crimean city on the 200th anniversary of its foundation.[3] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 January 1983 (M.P.C. 7616).[8]

References

  1. [1]
    "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)" (2016-09-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. [2]
    "Sevastopol". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
  3. [3]
    Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2121) Sevastopol". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2121) Sevastopol. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 172. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2122. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  4. [4]
    "LCDB Data for (2121) Sevastopol". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  5. [5]
    Johnston, Robert. "(2121) Sevastopol". johnstonsarchive.net. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. [6]
    Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. S2CID 119293330. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  7. [7]
    "2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  8. [8]
    "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
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