132 Aethra

132 Aethra

A three-dimensional model of 132 Aethra based on its light curve.
Discovery
Discovered by James C. Watson
Discovery date June 13, 1873
Designations
Named after
 Aethra
A922 XB; 1949 MD; 1953 LF
Main belt (Mars crosser)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch July 14, 2004 (JD 2453200.5)
Aphelion 3.622 AU (541.841 Gm)
Perihelion 1.595 AU (238.558 Gm)
2.608 AU (390.199 Gm)
Eccentricity 0.389
4.21 a (1538.652 d)
17.72 km/s
89.813°
Inclination 25.055°
258.945°
254.330°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 42.87 km[1]
35.83 ± 6.59[2] km
Mass (0.41 ± 2.71) × 1018[2] kg
0.012 m/s²
0.023 km/s
0.2153 d (5.168 h)[1]
Albedo 0.199[1]
Temperature ~168 K
Spectral type
 M
9.21[1]

    132 Aethra is an M-type main-belt asteroid. It has a rather eccentric orbit that sometimes brings it closer to the Sun than the planet Mars. It was discovered by James Craig Watson in 1873 and is the first such Mars-crosser asteroid to be identified. As a Mars-crosser asteroid, Aethra is the lowest numbered asteroid to not have proper orbital elements due to recurring perturbations by Mars.

    With an original observation arc of only 22 days, 132 Aethra was a lost asteroid between 1873 and 1922.[3][4]

    The varying light curve of the asteroid implies an elongated or irregular shape for its body.

    It is named after Aethra, the mother of Theseus in Greek mythology.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 132 Aethra" (2000-06-10 last obs). Retrieved 2008-11-30.
    2. 1 2 Carry, B. (December 2012), "Density of asteroids", Planetary and Space Science 73, pp. 98–118, arXiv:1203.4336, Bibcode:2012P&SS...73...98C, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.03.009. See Table 1.
    3. ↑ Herget, Paul (1938). "The orbit and perturbations of (132) Aethra". Astronomical Journal 47 (1081): 17–23. Bibcode:1938AJ.....47...17H. doi:10.1086/105455.
    4. ↑ The planet observer's handbook (2000), By Fred William Price, Page 192. (Google Books 2010)

    External links


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