1954 Kukarkin

1954 Kukarkin (prov. designation: 1952 PH) is an asteroid and slow rotator on an eccentric orbit from the outer regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 15 August 1952, by Russian astronomer Pelageya Shajn at Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula.[7] The asteroid has a exceptionally long rotation period of 136.4 hours and measures approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) in diameter. It was named after astronomer Boris Kukarkin.[2]

1954 Kukarkin
Modelled shape of Kukarkin from its lightcurve
Discovery [1]
Discovered byP. F. Shajn
Discovery siteSimeiz Obs.
Discovery date15 August 1952
Designations
(1954) Kukarkin
Named after
Boris Kukarkin (astronomer)[2]
1952 PH · 1957 QB
main-belt · (outer)[3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.87 yr (23,327 days)
Aphelion3.8543 AU
Perihelion2.0177 AU
2.9360 AU
Eccentricity0.3128
5.03 yr (1,838 days)
324.18°
0° 11m 45.24s / day
Inclination14.794°
278.02°
70.427°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions13.659±0.309 km[4][5]
30.59 km (calculated)[3]
136.40±0.03 h[6]
0.057 (assumed)[3]
0.261±0.016[4][5]
C [3]
11.3[1][3] · 11.4[4]

    Orbit and classification

    Kukarkin orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.0–3.9 AU once every 5.03 years (1,838 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.31 and an inclination of 15° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] No precoveries were taken prior to its discovery.[7]

    Naming

    This minor planet is named after stellar astronomer Boris Vasilyevich Kukarkin (1909–1977), a well-known specialist for variable stars, the structure of stellar systems, and professor at Moscow State University. Kukarkin started and edited the General Catalogue of Variable Stars that was first published in 1948. He also served as vice-president of the Astronomical Council of Academy of Sciences of the USSR as well as of the International Astronomical Union and was the president of its Commission 27.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1980 (M.P.C. 5358).[8]

    Physical characteristics

    Kukarkin is a slow rotator, with a long period of 136.40±0.03 hours, measured at Los Algarrobos Observatory, Uruguay (I38) during a favorable opposition in 2012. The well-defined rotational lightcurve had brightness variation of 0.8±0.05 magnitude (U=3-).[6]

    While observations taken by NEOWISE gave an albedo of 0.2608±0.0155 and a diameter of 13.659±0.309 kilometers,[4] the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for a carbonaceous C-type asteroid of 0.057 and calculates a significantly larger diameter of 30.6 kilometers, as the lower the albedo, the larger the body's diameter at a constant absolute magnitude.[3]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1954 Kukarkin (1952 PH)" (2016-06-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1954) Kukarkin". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1954) Kukarkin. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 157. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1955. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (1954) Kukarkin". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    4. 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 18 May 2016.
    5. Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
    6. Alvarez, Eduardo Manuel (January 2013). "Period Determination for the Slow Rotator 1954 Kukarkin". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 40 (1): 29–30. Bibcode:2013MPBu...40...29A. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    7. "1954 Kukarkin (1952 PH)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.