1810 Epimetheus

1810 Epimetheus
Discovery [1]
Discovered by Palomar–Leiden survey
C. J. van Houten, I. van Houten-Groeneveld and Tom Gehrels
Discovery site Palomar Obs.
Discovery date 24 September 1960
Designations
MPC designation 1810 Epimetheus
Named after
 Epimetheus
(mythology)[2]
4196 P–L · 1942 FS
1950 SC · 1957 WC1
1962 GC · 1970 SS
main-belt · Flora [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 61.98 yr (22,637 days)
Aphelion 2.4288 AU
Perihelion 2.0187 AU
2.2237 AU
Eccentricity 0.0922
3.32 yr (1,211 days)
100.93°
Inclination 4.0315°
254.13°
203.77°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 7.67±0.16 km[4]
8.19 km (calculated)[3]
28.61 h[lower-alpha 1]
10.88±0.02 h[5]
0.274±0.037[4]
0.24 (assumed)[3]
S [3]
12.6

    1810 Epimetheus, also designated 4196 P–L, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It measures about 8 kilometers in diameter and is a member of the Flora family of asteroids.[3][4] Epimetheus was discovered on September 24, 1960 by the Dutch and Dutch–American astronomers Cornelis van Houten, Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld and Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory near Pauma Valley in California.[6]

    The S-type asteroid has an albedo of 0.274±0.037.[4] It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–2.4 AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,211 days). Two different light-curve measurements gave a period of the body's rotation of 10.9 and 28.6 hours, respectively.[lower-alpha 1][5]

    The designation P–L stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Cornelis Johannes van Houten and Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld at Leiden Observatory. The trio are credited with several thousand asteroid discoveries.

    The asteroid is named after the Titan in Greek mythology, Epimetheus, who opened Pandora's box, which contained all the illnesses and ailments of mankind (also see 55 Pandora). The name is also given to a moon of Saturn, Epimetheus (moon), discovered by the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1980. Epimetheus is the brother of Prometheus after which the minor planet 1809 Prometheus was named.[2]

    Notes

    1. 1 2 Pravec 2007, web publication, summary figures given in the Light Curve Data Base – (1810) Epimetheus

    References

    1. 1 2 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1810 Epimetheus (4196 P-L)" (2015-08-07 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved November 2015.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1810) Epimetheus. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 145. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7. Retrieved November 2015.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "LCDB Data for (1810) Epimetheus". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved November 2015.
    4. 1 2 3 4 Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; Cabrera, M. S. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved November 2015.
    5. 1 2 Brinsfield, James W. (September 2008). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Via Capote Observatory: First Quarter 2008". Bulletin of the Minor Planets (Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) 35 (3): 119–122. Bibcode:2008MPBu...35..119B. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved November 2015.
    6. ↑ "1810 Epimetheus (4196 P-L)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved November 2015.

    External links


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