152 Atala

152 Atala

A three-dimensional model of 152 Atala based on its light curve.
Discovery[1]
Discovered by P. P. Henry
Discovery site discovery_site
Discovery date 1875
Designations
Named after
 Atala
Main belt
Orbital characteristics[2][3]
Aphelion 3.374 AU
Perihelion 2.918 AU
3.146 AU
Eccentricity 0.072
5.582 years
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 65 ± 8 km[4]
71–122 km[5]
Mass (5.43 ± 1.24) × 1018[6] kg
5.28-6.25 hours
Albedo 0.054
Spectral type
 D[7]
8.33

    152 Atala is a large main belt asteroid that was discovered by brothers Paul Henry and Prosper Henry on November 2, 1875, but the discovery was credited to Paul. It is a type D asteroid, meaning that it is composed of carbon, organic rich silicates and possibly water ice.

    The asteroid is named for the eponymous heroine of the 1801 novella Atala by François-René de Chateaubriand.[8] The Henry brothers also named the last of their discoveries, 186 Celuta, after another Chateaubriand heroine.[9] Both Atala and Céluta are American Indian fictional characters.[10]

    An occultation of a star by Atala was observed from Japan on March 11, 1994. Subsequent occultations have been observed as recently as 2006.

    Photometric of this asteroid made in 1981 gave a light curve with a period of 5.282 ± 0.004 hours with a brightness variation of 0.50 in magnitude.[11]

    References

    1. ↑ Hardard's Numbered MPs
    2. ↑ Lowell Astorb
    3. ↑ Yeomans, Donald K., "152 Atala", JPL Small-Body Database Browser (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), retrieved 2013-03-30.
    4. ↑ Ďurech, Josef; Kaasalainen, Mikko; Herald, David; Dunham, David; Timerson, Brad; Hanuš, Josef; Frappa, Eric; Talbot, John; Hayamizu, Tsutomu; Warner, Brian D.; Pilcher, Frederick; Galád, Adrián (2011). "Combining asteroid models derived by lightcurve inversion with asteroidal occultation silhouettes". Icarus 214 (2): 652–670. arXiv:1104.4227. Bibcode:2011Icar..214..652D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.03.016.
    5. ↑ Asterodoccultation.com
    6. ↑ Carry, B. (December 2012), "Density of asteroids", Planetary and Space Science 73: 98–118, arXiv:1203.4336, Bibcode:2012P&SS...73...98C, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.03.009. See Table 1.
    7. ↑ SPIFF LCSUMPUB
    8. ↑ Schmadel, Lutz D.; International Astronomical Union (2003). Dictionary of minor planet names. Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 29. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
    9. ↑ Schmadel, Lutz D.; International Astronomical Union (2012). Dictionary of minor planet names (6 ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 29. ISBN 9783642297182. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
    10. ↑ Chateaubriand, François-René (1801). Atala.; Chateaubriand, François-René (1802). René.
    11. ↑ Schober, H. J. (July 1983), "The large C-type asteroids 146 Lucina and 410 Chloris, and the small S-type asteroids 152 Atala and 631 Philippina - Rotation periods and lightcurves", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series 53: 71–75, Bibcode:1983A&AS...53...71S.

    External links