7346 Boulanger

7346 Boulanger, provisional designation 1993 DQ2, is a Koronian asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 20 February 1993, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at the CERGA Observatory in Caussols, southeastern France. It was named after French Enlightenment philosopher Nicolas Boulanger.[1]

7346 Boulanger
Discovery [1]
Discovered byE. W. Elst
Discovery siteCERGA Obs.
Discovery date20 February 1993
Designations
(7346) Boulanger
Named after
Nicolas Boulanger
(French naturalist)
1993 DQ2 · 1981 UC16
1986 TK5 · 1986 TX10
1990 RN18
main-belt [1][2] · (outer)
Koronis [3]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.01 yr (23,016 d)
Aphelion3.1060 AU
Perihelion2.6453 AU
2.8757 AU
Eccentricity0.0801
4.88 yr (1,781 d)
169.09°
0° 12m 7.56s / day
Inclination3.1808°
119.00°
254.01°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
7.378±0.081 km[4]
0.270±0.066[4]
S (SDSS-MOC)[5]
12.8[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    Boulanger is a member of the Koronis family (605),[3] a very large outer asteroid family with nearly co-planar ecliptical orbits.[6] It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.6–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 11 months (1,781 days; semi-major axis of 2.88 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

    The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar Observatory in April 1955, nearly 38 years prior to its official discovery observation at Caussols.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    In the SDSS-based taxonomy, Boulanger is a common, stony S-type asteroid,[5] which agrees with the overall spectral type for Koronian asteroids.[6]:23 It has an absolute magnitude of 12.8.[1][2] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Boulanger has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Boulanger measures 7.378 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.270.[4]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after Enlightenment philosopher and geologist Nicolas Antoine Boulanger (1722–1759).[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 24 June 2002 (M.P.C. 46008).[7]

    References
    1. "7346 Boulanger (1993 DQ2)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 7346 Boulanger (1993 DQ2)" (2018-04-21 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
    3. "Asteroid 7346 Boulanger". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
    4. 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.
    5. Carvano, J. M.; Hasselmann, P. H.; Lazzaro, D.; Mothé-Diniz, T. (February 2010). "SDSS-based taxonomic classification and orbital distribution of main belt asteroids". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 510: 12. Bibcode:2010A&A...510A..43C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913322. Retrieved 30 October 2019. (PDS data set)
    6. Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families. Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
    7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 May 2018.

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