5380 Sprigg

5380 Sprigg, provisional designation 1991 JT, is a background asteroid from the middle regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 7 May 1991, by Australian astronomer Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia.[8] It was named after Australian geologist Reg Sprigg.[2]

5380 Sprigg
Discovery [1]
Discovered byR. H. McNaught
Discovery siteSiding Spring Obs.
Discovery date7 May 1991
Designations
(5380) Sprigg
Named after
Reg Sprigg
(Australian geologist)[2]
1991 JT · 1983 JN
1983 LA1
main-belt · (middle) [3]
background
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc35.92 yr (13,118 days)
Aphelion3.1229 AU
Perihelion2.0357 AU
2.5793 AU
Eccentricity0.2108
4.14 yr (1,513 days)
102.71°
0° 14m 16.44s / day
Inclination9.3019°
242.31°
358.90°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.606±0.290 km[4][5]
12.75 km (calculated)[3]
3.219±0.002 h[6]
0.057 (assumed)[3]
0.280±0.025[4][5]
X [7] · C [3]
12.9[4] · 13.03±0.32[7] · 13.2[1][3]

    Orbit and classification

    Sprigg is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.0–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 2 months (1,513 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] A first precovery was taken at Palomar Observatory in 1980, extending the body's observation arc by 11 years prior to its official discovery observation at Siding Spring.[8]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after Reg Sprigg (1919–1994), Australian exploration geologist, oceanographer, biologist, author and conservationist. In 1946, he discovered the pre-Cambrian Ediacara biota, an assemblage of some of the most ancient animal fossils known. He is also the founder of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary which also hosts a small observatory. The naming was proposed by astronomer Duncan Steel.[2] Naming citation was prepared by the Sprigg family and published on 11 April 1998 (M.P.C. 31609).[9]

    Physical characteristics

    Sprigg has been classified as an X-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS photometric survey.[7]

    Rotation period

    A rotational lightcurve of Sprigg was obtained from photometric observations by astronomer Maurice Clark at Texas Tech University in October 2013. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 3.219 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.68 magnitude, indicating that the body has a non-spheroidal shape (U=3-).[6]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Sprigg measures 6.606 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.280,[4][5] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and calculates a larger diameter of 12.75 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 13.2.[3]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 5380 Sprigg (1991 JT)" (2016-09-13 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(5380) Sprigg". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (5380) Sprigg. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 460. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5173. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (5380) Sprigg". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
    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.
    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 29 March 2017.
    6. Clark, Maurice (July 2014). "Asteroid Photometry from the Preston Gott Observatory". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 41 (3): 178–183. Bibcode:2014MPBu...41..178C. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
    7. Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
    8. "5380 Sprigg (1991 JT)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
    9. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 March 2017.

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