1887 Virton
Stony Eoan asteroid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1887 Virton, provisional designation 1950 TD, is a stony Eoan asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 21 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Belgian astronomer Sylvain Arend at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Uccle on 5 October 1950, and named after the Belgian town of Virton.[2][7]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | S. Arend |
| Discovery site | Uccle Obs. |
| Discovery date | 5 October 1950 |
| Designations | |
| (1887) Virton | |
Named after | Virton (Belgian town)[2] |
| 1950 TD · 1934 RG 1944 OE · 1950 RG 1950 TQ1 · 1952 BF1 1960 QC · 1970 OA | |
| main-belt · Eos[3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 66.44 yr (24,266 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.3481 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.6606 AU |
| 3.0043 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1144 |
| 5.21 yr (1,902 days) | |
| 295.94° | |
| 0° 11m 21.48s / day | |
| Inclination | 9.6221° |
| 348.58° | |
| 32.733° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 20.848±0.260[4] 21.40 km (calculated)[3] 22.174±0.605 km[5] 23.43±0.54 km[6] |
| 0.105±0.005[6] 0.1085±0.0158[5] 0.124±0.015[4] 0.14 (assumed)[3] | |
| S[3] | |
| 11.1[1][3] · 11.3[5][6] | |
Orbit and classification
Virton is a member of the Eos family. It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7â3.3 AU once every 5 years and 3 months (1,902 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Uccle, as previous observations at Johannesburg, Crimea-Simeis and Turku Observatory remained unused.[7]
Physical characteristics
The asteroid has been characterized as a common stony S-type asteroid.[3]
Diameter and albedo
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Virton measures between 20.8 and 23.43 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.105 and 0.124, respectively.[4][5][6] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.14 and calculates a diameter of 21.4 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 11.1.[3]
Lightcurves
As of 2017, Virton's rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][3]
Naming
This minor planet was named after the town and capital district, Virton, in the southernmost part Belgium. It is located very close to Robelmont, Arend's birthplace (also see 1145 Robelmonte).[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 September 1983 (M.P.C. 8151).[8]
