1364 Safara
Main-belt asteroid
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1364 Safara, incorrectly designated 1935 VB, is an Eoan asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 25 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 18 November 1935, by French astronomer Louis Boyer at the Algiers Observatory in Algeria, North Africa.[12] The asteroid should have been designated 1935 WB, as the letter "V" only covers discoveries made during 1â15 November.[1] It was named after André Safar, presumably an acquaintance of the discoverer from Algiers.[2]
_Safara.png)
Modelled shape of Safara from its lightcurve | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | L. Boyer |
| Discovery site | Algiers Obs. |
| Discovery date | 18 November 1935 |
| Designations | |
| (1364) Safara | |
Named after | André Safar[2] (discoverer's acquaintance) |
| 1935 VB · 1932 EK | |
| main-belt · (outer) · Eos[3][4] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 85.64 yr (31,279 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.2114 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.8133 AU |
| 3.0124 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0661 |
| 5.23 yr (1,910 days) | |
| 8.7502° | |
| 0° 11m 18.6s / day | |
| Inclination | 11.488° |
| 63.986° | |
| 220.38° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 21.197±0.201 km[5] 21.508±0.266 km[6] 24.35±0.47 km[7] 25.73 km (calculated)[3] 32.63±0.46 km[8] |
| 7.14908±0.0004 h[9] 7.25±0.05 h[10][a] | |
| 0.087±0.012[8] 0.14 (assumed)[3] 0.173±0.007[7] 0.2231±0.0149[6] | |
| L[11] · S (assumed)[3] | |
| 10.60[6][7] · 10.64±0.19[11] · 10.70[1][3][8] | |
Orbit and classification
Safara is a member the Eos family (606),[4] the largest asteroid family of the outer main belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids.[13]:â23â It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.8â3.2 AU once every 5 years and 3 months (1,910 days; semi-major axis of 3.01 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The asteroid was first identified as 1932 EK at Heidelberg Observatory in March 1932. The body's observation arc begins at Algiers with its official discovery observation in November 1935.[12]
Physical characteristics
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) assumes Safara to be a stony S-type asteroid,[3] while it has also characterized as a rare L-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS photometric survey.[11] The overall spectral type of the Eos family is that of a K-type.[13]:â23â
Rotation period and poles
In February 2002, a rotational lightcurve of Safara was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomer Brian Warner at his Palmer Divide Observatory (716) in Colorado. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 7.25 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.36 magnitude (U=3-).[10][a]
In 2018, the body's lightcurve has also been modeled in a focused study of Eoan asteroids. Modeling gave a period of 7.14908 hours and two spin axis in ecliptic coordinates (λ, β) of (197.0°, 32.0°) and (10.0°, 12.0°).[9]
Diameter and albedo
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Safara measures between 21.197 and 32.63 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.087 and 0.2231.[5][6][7][8]
CALL assumes an albedo of 0.14 â derived from 221 Eos, the family's largest member and namesake â and calculates a diameter of 25.73 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.7.[3]
Naming
This minor planet was named after André Safar, presumably an acquaintance of the discoverer from Algiers. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 124).[2]
Notes
- Lightcurve plot of 1364 Safara, Palmer Divide Observatory, Brian D. Warner (2010) Summary figures at the LCDB
