69 Hesperia

69 Hesperia

A three-dimensional model of 69 Hesperia based on its light curve.
Discovery
Discovered by G. Schiaparelli
Discovery date April 26, 1861
Designations
Named after
 Hesperia
Main belt
Orbital characteristics
Epoch (absent)
Aphelion 519.3 Gm (3.471 AU)
Perihelion 372.3 Gm (2.489 AU)
445.8 Gm (2.980 AU)
Eccentricity 0.165
1879 d (5.14 a)
Inclination 8.59°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 138 km (IRAS)[1]
135x106x98 km[2]
110 ± 15 km[2]
Mass (5.86 ± 1.18) × 1018[3] kg
Mean density
 4.38 ± 0.99[3] g/cm3
5.655 h[1]
Albedo 0.140[1]
Spectral type
 M
7.05[1]

    69 Hesperia (/hɛsˈpɪəriə/ hes-PEER-ee-ə) is a large, M-type main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by the famous Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli on April 26, 1861 from Milan. It was his only asteroid discovery. Schiaparelli named it Hesperia in honour of Italy (the word is a Greek term for the peninsula).[4]

    Hesperia was observed by Arecibo radar in February 2010.[2] Radar observations combined with lightcurve-based shape models, lead to a diameter estimate of 110 ± 15 km.[2]

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 69 Hesperia" (2011-09-07 last obs). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Shepard, Michael K.; Harris, Alan W.; Taylor, Patrick A.; Clark, Beth Ellen; Ockert-Bell, Maureen; Nolan, Michael C.; Howell, Ellen S.; Magri, Christopher; Giorgini, Jon D.; Benner, Lance A. M. (2011). "Radar observations of Asteroids 64 Angelina and 69 Hesperia" (PDF). Icarus 215 (2): 547–551. Bibcode:2011Icar..215..547S. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.07.027.
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
    4. ↑ Lutz D. Schmadel, Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, p.22.

    External links