5381 Sekhmet

5381 Sekhmet is an Aten asteroid whose orbit is sometimes closer to the Sun than the Earth's. Carolyn Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory discovered it on 14 May 1991. It is named after Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war.[3]

5381 Sekhmet
Discovery [1]
Discovered byC. S. Shoemaker
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date14 May 1991
Designations
(5381) Sekhmet
Pronunciation/ˈsɛkmɛt/[2]
Named after
Sekhmet
(Egyptian mythology)[3]
1991 JY
Aten · NEO
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc24.00 yr (8,765 days)
Aphelion1.2281 AU
Perihelion0.6667 AU
0.9474 AU
Eccentricity0.2962
0.92 yr (337 days)
165.44°
Inclination48.968°
58.546°
37.429°
Earth MOID0.1123 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
1.42 km[4]
2.8233 h
S[4]
16.6[1]

    Sekhmet is believed to be an S-type asteroid, and some believe its diameter is approximately 1.4 km.[4][5]

    In December 2003, a team of astronomers at Arecibo Observatory announced that the asteroid may have a moon that measures 300 m in diameter and orbits approximately 1.5 km from Sekhmet.[5] This moon is not yet confirmed.

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 5381 Sekhmet (1991 JY)" (2015-05-13 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
    2. "Sekhmet". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House.
    3. "5381 Sekhmet (1991 JY)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
    4. "LCDB Data for (5381) Sekhmet". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
    5. Neish, C. D.; et al. (December 2003), "Radar Observations of Binary Asteroid 5381 Sekhmet", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35: 1421, Bibcode:2003AAS...20313402N
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