6255 Kuma

6255 Kuma
Discovery [1]
Discovered by A. Nakamura
Discovery site Kuma Kogen Obs.
Discovery date 5 December 1994
Designations
MPC designation 6255 Kuma
Named after
 Kuma, Ehime
(Japanese town)[2]
1994 XT · 1975 VJ8
1981 DV3 · 1986 EB2
1988 SU4 · 1989 WP3
1992 OL1
main-belt · (outer) [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 40.02 yr (14,618 days)      
Aphelion 2.8321 AU
Perihelion 2.6529 AU
2.7425 AU
Eccentricity 0.0326
4.54 yr (1,659 days)
224.45°
Inclination 5.1198°
275.39°
192.38°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 22.72±1.7 km (IRAS:3)[4]
17.86±0.52 km[5]
16.955±0.135 km[6]
21.50±9.05 km[7]
22.67 km (derived)[3]
9.70±0.01 h[8]
0.0342±0.006 (IRAS:3)[4]
0.058±0.004[5]
0.0601±0.0012[6]
0.029±0.029[7]
0.0238 (derived)[3]
C [3]
12.9[1]

    6255 Kuma, provisional designation 1994 XT, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, about 23 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 5 December 1994, by Japanese astronomer Akimasa Nakamura at Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory on the Island of Shikoku, Japan.[9]

    The dark C-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–2.8 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,659 days). Its orbit is tilted by 5 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic and shows an eccentricity of 0.03. In 2006, a photometric light-curve analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory in Colorado rendered a rotation period of 9.70±0.01 hours with an amplitude of 0.15 in magnitude.[8]

    According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and the U.S. WISE and its NEOWISE mission, the body's albedo varies between 0.03 and 0.06, while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an even lower value of 0.02.[3][4][5][6][7]

    The minor planet was named for the small Japanese town Kuma (now Kumakōgen, Ehime), home of the discovering observatory that was built in 1992 for astronomical education and tourism. Kuma is located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, after which the minor planet 4223 Shikoku is named, and is known for its forestry and agriculture, and as an important destination for pilgrims. The town also encourages local cultural activities.[2]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6255 Kuma (1994 XT)" (2015-11-15 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved January 2016.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (6255) Kuma. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 521. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7. Retrieved January 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "LCDB Data for (6255) Kuma". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved January 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved January 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 Usui, Fumihiko; Kuroda, Daisuke; Müller, Thomas G.; Hasegawa, Sunao; Ishiguro, Masateru; Ootsubo, Takafumi; et al. (October 2011). "Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan 63 (5): 1117–1138. Bibcode:2011PASJ...63.1117U. doi:10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117. Retrieved January 2016.
    6. 1 2 3 Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90. Retrieved January 2016.
    7. 1 2 3 Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (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 January 2016.
    8. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (March 2007). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory - June-September 2006". Bulletin of the Minor Planets (Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) 34 (1): 8–10. Bibcode:2007MPBu...34....8W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved January 2016.
    9. ↑ "6255 Kuma (1994 XT)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved January 2016.

    External links


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