1540 Kevola
Main-belt asteroid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1540 Kevola (provisional designation 1938 WK) is a dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 42 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 16 November 1938, by astronomer Liisi Oterma at the Iso-Heikkilä Observatory in Turku, Finland.[13] The asteroid was named after the Finnish Kevola Observatory.[2]
_Kevola.png)
Shape model of Kevola from its lightcurve | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | L. Oterma |
| Discovery site | Turku Observatory |
| Discovery date | 16 November 1938 |
| Designations | |
| (1540) Kevola | |
Named after | Kevola Observatory[2] |
| 1938 WK · 1926 GT 1933 UM · 1933 WR 1936 KL · 1937 QG 1940 EJ | |
| main-belt · (outer)[3] background[4] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 91.23 yr (33,320 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.0937 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.6068 AU |
| 2.8502 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0854 |
| 4.81 yr (1,758 days) | |
| 37.259° | |
| 0° 12m 17.28s / day | |
| Inclination | 11.971° |
| 52.468° | |
| 113.68° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 37.12±13.60 km[5] 40.16±0.59 km[6] 40.22±13.69 km[7] 43.875±0.318 km[8] 44.18±1.7 km[9] 44.22 km (derived)[3] |
| 20.071±0.0119 h[10] 20.082±0.001 h[11] | |
| 0.0433±0.004[9] 0.0474 (derived)[3] 0.048±0.008[8] 0.05±0.04[7] 0.053±0.002[6] 0.06±0.05[5] | |
| Câ (assumed)[3] | |
| 10.640±0.003 (R)[10] · 10.70[3][7][8] · 10.80[1][6][9] · 10.83[5] · 10.83±0.36[12] | |
Orbit and classification
Kevola is a non-family asteroid of the main belt's background population.[4] It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.6â3.1 AU once every 4 years and 10 months (1,758 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The body's observation arc begins with its first identification as 1926 GT at Heidelberg Observatory in April 1926, more than 12 years prior to its official discovery observation at Turku.[13]
Naming
This minor planet was named for the Finnish Kevola Observatory (064).[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 (M.P.C. 3930).[14]
Physical characteristics
Kevola is an assumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid.[3]
Rotation period
In February 2007, a rotational lightcurve of Kevola was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer Pierre Antonini. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 20.082 hours with a brightness variation of 0.23 magnitude (U=3-).[11] Another lightcurve obtained by astronomers at the Palomar Transient Factory in October 2010, gave a concurring period of 20.071 hours with an amplitude of 0.33 magnitude (U=2).[10]
Diameter and albedo
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Kevola measures between 37.12 and 44.18 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.0433 and 0.06.[5][6][7][8][9]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0474 and a diameter of 44.22 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.7.[3]
