4222 Nancita

4222 Nancita (prov. designation: 1988 EK1) is a bright background asteroid and upcoming Mars-crosser on an eccentric orbit from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 13 March 1988, by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at Palomar Observatory in California, United States.[9] The S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 3.9 hours and measures approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) in diameter. It was named after the discoverer's daughter-in-law, Nancy Coker Helin.

4222 Nancita
Shape model of Nancita from its lightcurve
Discovery [1]
Discovered byE. Helin
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date13 March 1988
Designations
(4222) Nancita
Named after
Nancy Coker Helin
(discoverer's family)[2]
1988 EK1 · 1950 TF4
1952 HN · 1968 QL1
1972 XQ1 · 1979 SL6
1983 XC1 · 1988 KL
main-belt · (inner) [3]
background
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc48.77 yr (17,813 days)
Aphelion3.0666 AU
Perihelion1.6705 AU
2.3685 AU
Eccentricity0.2947
3.65 yr (1,331 days)
104.75°
0° 16m 13.44s / day
Inclination3.7412°
206.85°
217.61°
Mars MOID0.1710 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
8.47±0.8 km (IRAS:11)[4]
9.14±0.71 km[5]
9.636±0.121[6]
9.707±0.215 km[7]
3.8732±0.0003 h[8]
0.2057±0.0073[7]
0.209±0.013[6]
0.232±0.038[5]
0.2703±0.061 (IRAS:11)[4]
SMASS = S[1][3]
12.3[1] · 12.4[3][4][5][7]

    Orbit and classification

    Nancita is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population when applying the hierarchical clustering method to its proper orbital elements. It will become a Mars-crossing asteroid in June 2019. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.7–3.1 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,331 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.29 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The asteroid was first observed as 1950 TF4 at McDonald Observatory in 1950. Its observation arc begins at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1968, when it observed as 1968 QL1, or 20 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[9]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named in honor of Nancy Coker Helin, daughter-in-law of the discoverer, and wife to Bruce Helin, after whom the minor planet 2430 Bruce Helin had previously been named. Nancy is described by the discoverer as a talented singer, composer and teacher, who has brought music and joy to her family.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 2 December 1990 (M.P.C. 17466).[10]

    Physical characteristics

    In the SMASS classification, Nancita is a common S-type asteroid.[1]

    Rotation and shape

    A rotational lightcurve of Nancita, obtained from photometric observations at the Australian Hunters Hill Observatory (E14) and collaborating stations in 2006, gave a well-defined rotation period of 3.8732 hours with a high brightness amplitude of 0.97 in magnitude (U=3), indicating that the body has a non-spheroidal shape.[8]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Nancita measures between 8.5 and 9.7 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo in the range of 0.21 to 0.27.[4][5][6][7] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link agrees with the results obtained by IRAS.[3]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4222 Nancita (1988 EK1)" (2017-06-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(4222) Nancita". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4222) Nancita. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 361. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4187. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (4222) Nancita". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 2 May 2016.
    4. Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
    5. 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 17 October 2019. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
    6. 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 5 December 2016.
    7. 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 2 May 2016.
    8. Higgins, David; Pravec, Petr; Kusnirak, Peter; Reddy, Vishnu; Dyvig, Ron (September 2006). "Asteroid lightcurve analysis at Hunters Hill Observatory and collaborating stations - summer 2005/6" (PDF). Minor Planet Bulletin. 33 (3): 64–66. Bibcode:2006MPBu...33...64H. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
    9. "4222 Nancita (1988 EK1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
    10. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
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