101 Helena

Main-belt asteroid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

101 Helena is a large, rocky main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Canadian-American astronomer J. C. Watson on August 15, 1868,[4] and was named after Helen of Troy in Greek mythology.

Discoverydate15 August 1868
(101) Helena
Quick facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
101 Helena
Orbital diagram
Discovery
Discovered byJames Craig Watson
Discovery date15 August 1868
Designations
(101) Helena
Pronunciation/ˈhɛlənə/[1]
Named after
Helen of Troy
A868 PA
Main belt
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc145.07 yr (52986 d)
Aphelion2.94606 AU (440.724 Gm)
Perihelion2.22353 AU (332.635 Gm)
2.58480 AU (386.681 Gm)
Eccentricity0.13977
4.16 yr (1517.9 d)
18.44 km/s
236.265°
0° 14m 13.823s / day
Inclination10.1976°
343.419°
348.030°
Earth MOID1.21369 AU (181.565 Gm)
Jupiter MOID2.4117 AU (360.79 Gm)
TJupiter3.387
Physical characteristics
Dimensions65.84±1.3 km[2]
Mass3.0×1017 kg
Mean density
2.0 g/cm3
Equatorial surface gravity
0.0184 m/s2
Equatorial escape velocity
0.0348 km/s
23.080 h (0.9617 d)[2]
0.1898±0.008[2]
Temperature~173 K
S[3]
8.33
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This object is orbiting the Sun with a period of 4.16 years and an eccentricity of 0.14. Its orbital plane is inclined by 10.2° to the plane of the ecliptic. Radar observations were made of this object on Oct 7 and 19, 2001 from the Arecibo Observatory. Analysis of the data gave an estimated ellipsoidal diameter of 71×63×63 ± 16% km. The mean diameter estimated from IRAS infrared measurements is 66 km, in agreement with the radar findings. It is classified as an S-type asteroid in the Tholen system,[3][5] suggesting a predominantly silicate composition. 101 Helena is spinning on its axis with a period of 23 hours.[2]

References

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