17 Thetis

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17 Thetis
Discovery
Discovered by R. Luther
Discovery date April 17, 1852
Designations
Alternative names A913 CA; A916 YF;
1954 SO1
Minor planet
category
Main belt
Epoch October 22, 2004 (JD 2453300.5)
Aphelion 419.069 Gm (2.801 AU)
Perihelion 319.991 Gm (2.139 AU)
Semi-major axis 369.530 Gm (2.470 AU)
Eccentricity 0.134
Orbital period 1418.027 d (3.88 a)
Average orbital speed 18.87 km/s
Mean anomaly 38.435°
Inclination 5.587°
Longitude of ascending node 125.622°
Argument of perihelion 135.906°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 90 km
Mass 7.6×1017 kg
Mean density 2.0? g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity 0.0252 m/s²
Escape velocity 0.0476 km/s
Rotation period 0.5113 d (12.27 h) [1]
Albedo 0.1715 [2]
Temperature ~173 K
Spectral type S
Absolute magnitude 7.76

17 Thetis (pronounced /ˈθiːtɪs/, Greek: Θέτις) is a large Main belt asteroid. It is a S-type asteroid, therefore giving it a relatively bright silicate surface.

It was discovered by R. Luther on April 17, 1852. It was his first asteroid discovery. Its name comes from Thetis, the mother of Achilles in Greek mythology.

One Thetidian stellar occultation was observed from Oregon in 1999. However, the event was not timed.

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1][dead link]
  2. ^ [2][dead link]