1121 Natascha

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1121 Natascha
Shape model of Natascha from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byP. Shajn
Discovery siteSimeiz Obs.
Discovery date11 September 1928
Designations
(1121) Natascha
Named after
Natasha Tichomirova[2]
(daughter of G. Neujmin)
1928 RZ · A918 EK
main-belt[1][3] · (inner)[4]
background[5] · Astraea[6]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc87.68 yr (32,024 days)
Aphelion2.9500 AU
Perihelion2.1428 AU
2.5464 AU
Eccentricity0.1585
4.06 yr (1,484 days)
285.31°
0° 14m 33.36s / day
Inclination6.1646°
357.91°
50.379°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
12.859±0.443 km[7]
14.52±0.54 km[8]
14.89 km (calculated)[4]
13.197±0.003 h[9]
  • (16.0°, 59.0°) (λ11)[5]
  • (209.0°, 50.0°) (λ22)[5]
0.160±0.013[8]
0.20 (assumed)[4]
0.294±0.023[7]
S (assumed)[4]
11.40[7] · 11.5[1][3][4] · 11.80[8]

1121 Natascha (prov. designation: 1928 RZ) is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 11 September 1928, by Soviet astronomer Pelageya Shajn at the Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula.[1] The presumed S-type asteroid has rotation period of 13.2 hours and measures approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) in diameter. It was named for Natasha Tichomirova, daughter of astronomer Grigory Neujmin.[2]

Orbit and classification[edit]

Natascha is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.[5] Conversely, the asteroid is also considered a core member of the disputed Astraea family.[6] It orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.1–3.0 AU once every 4 years and 1 month (1,484 days; semi-major axis of 2.55 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.16 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The asteroid was first observed as A918 EK at Simeiz Observatory in March 1918. The body's observation arc begins at Heidelberg Observatory in February 1930, or 17 months after its official discovery observation at Simeiz.[1]

Naming[edit]

This minor planet was named as a birthday present for Soviet hydrogeologist Natasha (Natalia) Tichomirova, daughter of Grigory Neujmin, who was an astronomer at the discovering Simeiz Observatory and prolific discoverer of minor planets himself (AN 240;409). The author of the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Lutz Schmadel, learned about the naming circumstances from Crimean astronomers N. Solovaya, Nataliya Sergeevna Samoilova-Yakhontova and Nikolai Chernykh (also see 1653 Yakhontovia and 2325 Chernykh).[2]

Physical characteristics[edit]

Natascha is an assumed, stony S-type asteroid.[4]

Rotation period and poles[edit]

In May 2012, a rotational lightcurve of Natascha was obtained from photometric observations by astronomers at the Oakley Southern Sky Observatory in Australia. Lightcurve analysis gave a well-defined rotation period of 13.197 hours with a brightness variation of 0.51 magnitude (U=3).[9] A high brightness amplitude typically indicates a non-spherical shape.

In 2016, a modeled lightcurve was published using photometric data from the Lowell Photometric Database. Lightcurve inversion gave a concurring period of 13.19717±0.00001 hours, as well as two spin axes of (16.0°, 59.0°) and (209.0°, 50.0°) in ecliptic coordinates (λ, β).[10]

Diameter and albedo[edit]

According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Natascha measures between 12.859 and 14.52 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.160 and 0.294.[7][8]

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 14.89 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 11.5.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "1121 Natascha (1928 RZ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1121) Natascha. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 95. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1122. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1121 Natascha (1928 RZ)" (2017-10-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "LCDB Data for (1121) Natascha". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Small Bodies Data Ferret". Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Asteroid 1121 Natascha – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8.
  8. ^ a b c d 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. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
  9. ^ a b Moravec, Patricia; Letfullina, Alla; Ditteon, Richard (January 2013). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Oakley Observatories: 2012 May - June". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 40 (1): 17–20. Bibcode:2013MPBu...40...17M. ISSN 1052-8091.
  10. ^ Durech, J.; Hanus, J.; Oszkiewicz, D.; Vanco, R. (March 2016). "Asteroid models from the Lowell photometric database". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 587: 6. arXiv:1601.02909. Bibcode:2016A&A...587A..48D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201527573.

External links[edit]