3192 A'Hearn

3192 A'Hearn, provisional designation 1982 BY1, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, about 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer Edward Bowell at Lowell's Anderson Mesa Station in Flagstaff, Arizona, on 30 January 1982.[6]

3192 A'Hearn
Discovery[1]
Discovered byE. Bowell
Discovery siteAnderson Mesa Stn.
Discovery date30 January 1982
Designations
(3192) A'Hearn
Named after
Michael A'Hearn
(astronomer)[2]
1982 BY1 · 1975 JN
main-belt · (inner)[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc41.29 yr (15,081 days)
Aphelion2.7782 AU
Perihelion1.9767 AU
2.3774 AU
Eccentricity0.1686
3.67 yr (1,339 days)
251.29°
0° 16m 8.04s / day
Inclination2.8791°
56.726°
91.584°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions4.361±0.700[4]
5.66 km (calculated)[3]
3.160 h[5]
0.20 (assumed)[3]
0.354±0.166[4]
SMASS = C[1] · C[3]
13.6[1][3]

    Orbit and classification

    The C-type asteroid orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.8 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,339 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The first precovery was obtained at El Leoncito in 1975, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 7 years prior to its discovery.[6]

    Physical characteristics

    A rotational lightcurve for this asteroid was obtained from photometric observations made by Japanese astronomer Sunao Hasegawa, using the 1.05-meter Schmidt telescope at Kiso Observatory in March 2004. It showed a well-defined rotation period of 3.16 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.20 in magnitude (U=3).[5] According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, the asteroid measures 4.4 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a high albedo of 0.354.[4] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 – despite the fact that the body has been classified as a carbonaceous C-type – and calculates a diameter of 5.7 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 13.6.[3]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named for American cometary astronomer and professor of astronomy at CMNS, Michael A'Hearn (b.1940), known for his contribution to cometary science, especially for his wide-range spectroscopic and spectrophotometric observations. He participated in the space-based EPOXI and IUE mission, which, in 1983, detected for the first time the presence of cometary diatomic sulfur while observing Comet IRAS–Araki–Alcock's spectrum.[2][7] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 June 1986 (M.P.C. 10848).[8]

    References

    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 3192 A'Hearn (1982 BY1)" (2016-08-20 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3192) A'Hearn". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3192) A'Hearn. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 265. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3193. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (3192) A'Hearn". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    4. Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Masiero, J.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Grav, T.; et al. (December 2015). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year One: Preliminary Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 814 (2): 13. arXiv:1509.02522. Bibcode:2015ApJ...814..117N. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/814/2/117. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
    5. Hasegawa, S.; Miyasaka, S.; Mito, H.; Sarugaku, Y.; Ozawa, T.; Kuroda, D.; et al. (May 2012). "Lightcurve Survey of V-Type Asteroids. Observations Until 2005". Asteroids. 1667: 6281. arXiv:1204.0548. Bibcode:2012LPICo1667.6281H. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    6. "3192 A'Hearn (1982 BY1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    7. Boice, Daniel C.; Reyle, Celine (December 2002). "The Nature of Diatomic Sulfur in Comets". Formation of Cometary Material. 25: E38. Bibcode:2003IAUJD..14E..38B. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 May 2016.

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