1868 Thersites

1868 Thersites /θərˈstz/ is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) in diameter. Discovered during the Palomar–Leiden survey at Palomar in 1960, it was later named after the warrior Thersites from Greek mythology. The presumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid belongs to the 50 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 10.48 hours.[5]

1868 Thersites
Discovery[1]
Discovered byC. J. van Houten
I. van Houten G.
T. Gehrels
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date24 September 1960
Designations
(1868) Thersites
Pronunciation/θərˈstz/[2]
Named after
Thersites[3]
(Greek mythology)
2008 P-L · 1972 RB2
Jupiter trojan[1][4][5]
Greek[6][7] · background[7]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.50 yr (23,195 d)
Aphelion5.9015 AU
Perihelion4.7316 AU
5.3166 AU
Eccentricity0.1100
12.26 yr (4,478 d)
277.51°
0° 4m 49.44s / day
Inclination16.751°
197.82°
169.76°
Jupiter MOID0.2116 AU
TJupiter2.9030
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
68.16±0.81 km[8]
70.08 km (calculated)[5]
78.89±2.02 km[9]
10.412±0.003 h[lower-alpha 1]
10.416±0.014 h[10]
10.48±0.01 h[11][lower-alpha 2]
0.055±0.003[9]
0.055±0.008[8]
0.057 (assumed)[5]
C (assumed)[5]
V–I = 0.960±0.034[5]
9.30[9]
9.5[1][4][5]
9.6[8]

    Discovery

    Thersites was discovered on 24 September 1960, by Dutch astronomer couple Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden, on photographic plates taken by Tom Gehrels at the Palomar Observatory in California.[1] On the same day, the group discovered another Jupiter trojan, 1869 Philoctetes.

    The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar in March 1954, more than 6 years prior to its official discovery observation.[1]

    Palomar–Leiden survey

    The provisional survey designation "P-L" stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after the Palomar and Leiden observatories, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s and 1970s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope, also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope, and shipped the photographic plates to Cornelis and Ingrid van Houten at Leiden Observatory, where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand minor planets.[12]

    Orbit and classification

    Thersites is a dark Jovian asteroid orbiting in the leading Greek camp at Jupiter's L4 Lagrangian point, 60° ahead of the Gas Giant's orbit in a 1:1 resonance (see Trojans in astronomy). It is also a non-family asteroid in the Jovian background population.[7][13] It orbits the Sun at a distance of 4.7–5.9 AU once every 12 years and 3 months (4,478 days; semi-major axis of 5.32 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 17° with respect to the ecliptic.[4]

    Physical characteristics

    The Trojan asteroid has been assumed to be a carbonaceous C-type asteroid.[5]

    Rotation period

    In July 1994, a first rotational lightcurve of Thersites was obtained from photometric observations by Italian astronomer Stefano Mottola using the former Dutch 0.9-metre Telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 10.416±0.014 hours with a brightness variation of 0.14±0.01 magnitude (U=2+).[5][10] The best-rated lightcurve by Robert Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies from June 2016 gave a period of 10.48 hours and an amplitude of 0.27 magnitude (U=3-).[5][11][lower-alpha 2] Follow-up observation in 2017 gave a similar period of 10.412 hours (U=2).[lower-alpha 1]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the space-based surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Thersites has a low albedo of 0.055 and measures 78.9 and 68.2 kilometers in diameter, respectively.[8][9] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for a carbonaceous asteroid of 0.057, and calculates an intermediate diameter of 70.08 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 9.5.[5]

    100+ largest Jupiter trojans
    Largest Jupiter Trojans by survey(A)
    (mean-diameter in kilometers; YoD: Year of Discovery)
    Designation H WISE IRAS Akari Ln RP V–I YoD Ref
    624 Hektor7.2225233230.99L46.920.9301907list
    617 Patroclus8.19140.362140.92140.85L5102.800.8301906list
    911 Agamemnon7.89131.038166.66185.30L46.590.9801919list
    588 Achilles8.67130.099135.47133.22L47.310.9401906list
    3451 Mentor8.4126.288116.30117.91L57.700.7701984list
    3317 Paris8.3118.790116.26120.45L57.090.9501984list
    1867 Deiphobus8.3118.220122.67131.31L558.660.9301971list
    1172 Äneas8.33118.020142.82148.66L58.710.9501930list
    1437 Diomedes8.3117.786164.31172.60L424.490.8101937list
    1143 Odysseus7.93114.624125.64130.81L410.110.8601930list
    2241 Alcathous8.64113.682114.63118.87L57.690.9401979list
    659 Nestor8.99112.320108.87107.06L415.980.7901908list
    3793 Leonteus8.7112.04686.2687.58L45.620.7801985list
    3063 Makhaon8.4111.655116.14114.34L48.640.8301983list
    1583 Antilochus8.6108.842101.62111.69L431.540.9501950list
    884 Priamus8.81101.09396.29119.99L56.860.9001917list
    1208 Troilus8.99100.477103.34111.36L556.170.7401931list
    1173 Anchises8.8999.549126.27120.49L511.600.7801930list
    2207 Antenor8.8997.65885.1191.32L57.970.9501977list
    2363 Cebriones9.1195.97681.8484.61L520.050.9101977list
    4063 Euforbo8.795.619102.46106.38L48.850.9501989list
    2357 Phereclos8.9494.62594.9098.45L514.390.9601981list
    4709 Ennomos8.591.43380.8580.03L512.280.6901988list
    2797 Teucer8.789.430111.14113.99L410.150.9201981list
    2920 Automedon8.888.574111.01113.11L410.210.9501981list
    (15436) 1998 VU309.187.64685.7178.63L48.970.8701998list
    3596 Meriones9.287.38075.0973.28L412.960.8301985list
    2893 Peiroos9.2386.88487.4686.76L58.960.9501975list
    4086 Podalirius9.185.49586.8985.98L410.430.8701985list
    4060 Deipylos9.384.04379.2186.79L49.300.7601987list
    1404 Ajax9.383.99081.6996.34L429.380.9601936list
    4348 Poulydamas9.582.03270.0887.51L59.910.8401988list
    5144 Achates9.080.95891.9189.85L55.960.9201991list
    4833 Meges8.980.16587.3389.39L414.250.9401989list
    2223 Sarpedon9.4177.48094.63108.21L522.740.8801977list
    (4489) 1988 AK9.076.59592.9395.02L412.580.9501988list
    2260 Neoptolemus9.3176.43571.6581.28L48.180.9501975list
    5254 Ulysses9.276.14778.3480.00L428.720.9701986list
    (3708) 1974 FV19.375.66179.5976.75L56.550.9801974list
    2674 Pandarus9.174.26798.10101.72L58.481.0001982list
    3564 Talthybius9.473.73068.9274.11L440.590.9001985list
    4834 Thoas9.172.33186.8296.21L418.190.9501989list
    (7641) 1986 TT69.471.83968.9775.28L427.770.9801986list
    3540 Protesilaos9.370.22576.8487.66L48.950.9401973list
    (11395) 1998 XN779.868.97764.7167.78L417.381998list
    (4035) 1986 WD9.668.73368.2366.99L413.470.9701986list
    5264 Telephus9.468.47273.2681.38L49.530.9701991list
    1868 Thersites9.568.16370.0878.89L410.480.9601960list
    (9799) 1996 RJ9.668.03364.8772.42L421.520.9101996list
    4068 Menestheus9.567.62562.3768.46L414.400.9501973list
    (23135) 2000 AN1469.966.23058.2968.50L48.690.8602000list
    2456 Palamedes9.365.91691.6699.60L47.240.9201966list
    3709 Polypoites9.165.29799.0985.23L410.041.0001985list
    1749 Telamon9.564.89881.0669.14L416.980.9701949list
    3548 Eurybates9.663.88572.1468.40L48.710.7301973list
    4543 Phoinix9.763.83662.7969.54L438.871.2001989list
    12444 Prothoon9.863.83564.3162.41L515.821996list
    4836 Medon9.563.27767.7378.70L49.820.9201989list
    (16070) 1999 RB1019.763.19164.1368.98L520.240.9601999list
    (15440) 1998 WX49.662.51966.4871.88L421.430.9701998list
    (4715) 1989 TS19.762.09763.9165.93L58.810.8501989list
    (34746) 2001 QE919.861.68460.5163.63L519.630.9502001list
    (38050) 1998 VR389.861.60361.0450.44L418.850.9901998list
    5130 Ilioneus9.760.71159.4052.49L514.770.9601989list
    5027 Androgeos9.659.78657.86n.a.L411.380.9101988list
    (6090) 1989 DJ9.459.56874.5381.92L418.480.9801989list
    (5648) 1990 VU19.759.29563.91n.a.L537.560.9001990list
    7119 Hiera9.759.15076.4077.29L44000.9501989list
    4805 Asteropaios10.057.64753.1643.44L512.371990list
    16974 Iphthime9.857.34155.4357.15L478.90.9601998list
    4867 Polites9.857.25158.2964.29L511.241.0101989list
    2895 Memnon10.056.70655.67n.a.L57.500.7101981list
    4708 Polydoros9.954.96455.67n.a.L57.520.9601988list
    (21601) 1998 XO8910.054.90955.6756.08L412.650.9701998list
    (12929) 1999 TZ19.954.07761.0455.34L59.270.8801999list
    17492 Hippasos10.053.97555.67n.a.L517.751991list
    5652 Amphimachus10.153.92153.1652.48L48.371.0501992list
    2759 Idomeneus9.953.67661.0152.55L432.380.9101980list
    (5258) 1989 AU110.253.27550.77n.a.L419.851.0101989list
    (12126) 1999 RM1110.153.202n.a.n.a.L5n.a.?1999list
    (15502) 1999 NV2710.053.10055.6750.86L515.130.8751999list
    4754 Panthoos10.053.02553.1556.96L527.681977list
    4832 Palinurus10.052.05853.16n.a.L55.321.0001988list
    5126 Achaemenides10.551.92244.2248.57L453.021989list
    3240 Laocoon10.251.69550.77n.a.L511.310.8801978list
    4902 Thessandrus9.851.26361.0471.79L47380.9601989list
    11552 Boucolion10.151.13653.1653.91L532.441993list
    (20729) 1999 XS14310.450.96146.30n.a.L45.721.0001999list
    (6545) 1986 TR610.150.95153.16n.a.L416.260.9101986list
    4792 Lykaon10.150.87053.16n.a.L540.090.9601988list
    21900 Orus10.050.81055.6753.87L413.450.9501999list
    1873 Agenor10.150.79953.7654.38L520.601971list
    5028 Halaesus10.250.77050.77n.a.L424.940.9001988list
    2146 Stentor9.950.75558.29n.a.L416.401976list
    4722 Agelaos10.050.37853.1659.47L518.440.9101977list
    5284 Orsilocus10.150.15953.16n.a.L410.310.9701989list
    11509 Thersilochos10.149.96053.1656.23L517.371990list
    5285 Krethon10.149.60658.5352.61L412.041.0901989list
    4791 Iphidamas10.149.52857.8559.96L59.701.0301988list
    9023 Mnesthus10.149.15150.7760.80L530.661988list
    5283 Pyrrhus9.748.35664.5869.93L47.320.9501989list
    4946 Askalaphus10.248.20952.7166.10L422.730.9401988list
    (22149) 2000 WD4910.248.19050.7750.37L47.841.0902000list
    (32496) 2000 WX18210.248.01750.7751.63L523.340.9502000list
    5120 Bitias10.247.98750.77n.a.L515.210.7801988list
    12714 Alkimos10.147.81961.0454.62L428.481991list
    (7352) 1994 CO9.947.73155.67 47.07L56480.8501994list
    1870 Glaukos10.647.64942.23n.a.L55.991971list
    4138 Kalchas10.146.46253.1661.04L429.20.8101973list
    (23958) 1998 VD3010.246.00150.7747.91L45620.9901998list
    4828 Misenus10.445.95446.30 43.22L512.870.9201988list
    4057 Demophon10.145.68353.16n.a.L429.821.0601985list
    4501 Eurypylos10.445.52446.30n.a.L46.051989list
    4007 Euryalos10.345.51548.4853.89L46.391973list
    5259 Epeigeus10.344.74142.5944.42L418.421989list
    30705 Idaios10.444.54646.30n.a.L515.741977list
    16560 Daitor10.743.86151.4243.38L51991list
    (15977) 1998 MA1110.443.53046.3051.53L52500.9061998list
    7543 Prylis10.642.89342.23n.a.L417.801973list
    4827 Dares10.542.77044.22n.a.L519.001988list
    1647 Menelaus10.542.71644.22n.a.L417.740.8661957list
    (A) Used sources: WISE/NEOWISE catalog (NEOWISE_DIAM_V1 PDS, Grav, 2012); IRAS data (SIMPS v.6 catalog); and Akari catalog (Usui, 2011); RP: rotation period and V–I (color index) taken from the LCDB

    Note: missing data was completed with figures from the JPL SBDB (query) and from the LCDB (query form) for the WISE/NEOWISE and SIMPS catalogs, respectively. These figures are given in italics. Also, listing is incomplete above #100.

    Naming

    This minor planet was named from Greek mythology after Thersites, a Greek warrior who wanted to abandon Troy's siege during the Trojan War and head home. The given name also refers to the fact, that the asteroid was discovered farthest from the L4 Lagrangian point.[3] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1975 (M.P.C. 3826).[14]

    Notes

    1. Stephens (2017). Observations from July 2017. (lightcurve plot) Rotation period 10.412±0.003 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.18±0.01 mag. Quality code of 2. Summary figures for (1868) Thersites at the LCDB.
    2. Lightcurve plot of (1868) Thersites (July 2016) Rotation period 10.48±0.01 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.27±0.02 mag. Quality code is 3-. Summary figures for at the LCDB.

    References

    1. "1868 Thersites (2008 P-L)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    2. Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
    3. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1868) Thersites". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1868) Thersites. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 150. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1869. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    4. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1868 Thersites (2008 P-L)" (2017-09-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    5. "LCDB Data for (1868) Thersites". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    6. "List of Jupiter Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    7. "Asteroid (1868) Thersites". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
    8. Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Bauer, J. M.; Masiero, J. R.; Nugent, C. R. (November 2012). "WISE/NEOWISE Observations of the Jovian Trojan Population: Taxonomy". The Astrophysical Journal. 759 (1): 10. arXiv:1209.1549. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759...49G. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/759/1/49. (online catalog)
    9. 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 15 June 2018. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
    10. Mottola, Stefano; Di Martino, Mario; Erikson, Anders; Gonano-Beurer, Maria; Carbognani, Albino; Carsenty, Uri; et al. (May 2011). "Rotational Properties of Jupiter Trojans. I. Light Curves of 80 Objects". The Astronomical Journal. 141 (5): 32. Bibcode:2011AJ....141..170M. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/141/5/170.
    11. Stephens, Robert D.; Coley, Daniel R.; Warner, Brian D.; French, Linda, M. (October 2016). "Lightcurves of Jovian Trojan Asteroids from the Center for Solar System Studies: L4 Greek Camp and Spies". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 43 (4): 323–331. Bibcode:2016MPBu...43..323S. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    12. "Minor Planet Discoverers". Minor Planet Center. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    13. "Asteroid 1868 Thersites". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
    14. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2009). "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.

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