762 Pulcova is a main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Grigoriy N. Neujmin in 1913,[2] and is named after Pulkovo Observatory, near Saint Petersburg. Pulcova is 137 km in diameter,[2] and is a C-type asteroid, which means that it is dark in colouring with a carbonate composition.
Photometric observations of this asteroid from Leura, Australia during 2006 gave a light curve with a period of 5.8403 ± 0.0005 hours and a brightness variation of 0.20 ± 0.02 in magnitude. This result is in agreement with previous studies.[5]
Satellite [edit]
On February 22, 2000,[1] astronomers at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, discovered a small, 15-km moon (roughly a 10th the size of the primary)[6] orbiting Pulcova at a distance of 800 km.[7] The satellite is about 4 magnitudes fainter than the primary.[7] It was one of the first asteroid moons to be identified.
Density [edit]
In the year 2000, Merline estimated Pulcova to have a density of 1.8 g/cm³, which would make it more dense than the binary asteroids 45 Eugenia and 90 Antiope.[7] But estimates by Marchis in 2008 suggest a density of only 0.90 g/cm³,[3] suggesting it may be a loosely-packed rubble pile, not a monolithic object.
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "762 Pulcova". SwRI. 2000-02-22. Retrieved 2009-10-20. (AO image)
- ^ a b c d e f g h "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 762 Pulcova (1913 SQ)". 2009-09-22 last obs. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ a b c Jim Baer (2008). "Recent Asteroid Mass Determinations". Personal Website. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- ^ Magnitudes generated with JPL Horizons for the year 1950 through 2100
- ^ Oey, Julian (December 2006), "Lightcurves analysis of 10 asteroids from Leura Observatory", Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers 33 (4): 96–99, Bibcode:2006MPBu...33...96O.
- ^ Dr. William J. Merline and Maria Martinez (2000-10-26). "Astronomers Image Double Asteroid". SwRI Press Release. Retrieved 2009-10-20. (mentions both 90 Antiope and 762 Pulcova)
- ^ a b c W.J. Merline (SwRI), L.M. Close (ESO, U. Arizona), C. Dumas (JPL), J.C. Shelton (Mt. Wilson Obs.), F. Menard (CFHT), C.R. Chapman, D.C. Slater (SwRI) (2000-06-21). "Discovery of Companions to Asteroids 762 Pulcova and 90 Antiope by Direct Imaging". SwRI. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
External links [edit]
