128 Nemesis

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128 Nemesis
Discovery
Discovered by: James Craig Watson
Discovery date: November 25, 1872
Alternative names:  
Minor planet category: Main belt
Orbital characteristics
Epoch December 31, 2006 (JD 2454100.5)
Aphelion distance: 463.605 Gm (3.099 AU)
Perihelion distance: 359.010 Gm (2.400 AU)
Semi-major axis: 411.307 Gm (2.749 AU)
Eccentricity: 0.127
Orbital period: 1665.175 d (4.56 a)
Avg. orbital speed: 17.89 km/s
Mean anomaly: 181.168°
Inclination: 6.254°
Longitude of ascending node: 76.457°
Argument of perihelion: 302.407°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions: 188.2 km
Mass: 7.0×1018 kg
Mean density: ? g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity: 0.0526 m/s²
Escape velocity: 0.0995 km/s
Rotation period: ? d
Albedo: ?
Temperature: ~168 K
Spectral type: C
Absolute magnitude: 7.49

128 Nemesis is a very large and very dark main belt asteroid, of carbonaceous composition. It rotates rather slowly, taking about one and half Earth days to complete one revolution. Nemesis is the largest member of the Nemesian asteroid family bearing its name. It was discovered by J. C. Watson on November 25, 1872 and named after Nemesis, the goddess of retribution in Greek mythology. Nemesis is also the name of a hypothetical companion star of the sun.


Minor planets
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