192 Nausikaa

192 Nausikaa^[a] is a large main-belt S-type asteroid. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on February 17, 1879, at Pula, then in Austria, now in Croatia. The name derives from Nausicaä, a princess in Homer's Odyssey.

DiscoveredbyJ. Palisa, 1879

Discoverydate17 February 1879

MPCdesignation

(192) Nausikaa

Pronunciation/nɔːˈsɪki.ə/^[1]

Quick facts Discovery, Discovered by ...

192 Nausikaa

A three-dimensional model of 192 Nausikaa based on its light curve.
Discovery
Discovered by	J. Palisa, 1879
Discovery date	17 February 1879
Designations
MPC designation	(192) Nausikaa
Pronunciation	/nɔːˈsɪki.ə/[1]
Named after	Nausicaä
Alternative designations	A879 DA; 1933 HH
Minor planet category	Main belt
Adjectives	Nausikaan[2]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	137.04 yr (50054 d)
Aphelion	2.9934 AU (447.81 Gm)
Perihelion	1.8121 AU (271.09 Gm)
Semi-major axis	2.4028 AU (359.45 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.24582
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.72 yr (1360.4 d)
Mean anomaly	94.342°
Mean motion	0° 15m 52.632s / day
Inclination	6.8137°
Longitude of ascending node	343.25°
Argument of perihelion	30.067°
Earth MOID	0.814558 AU (121.8561 Gm)
Jupiter MOID	2.48275 AU (371.414 Gm)
TJupiter	3.474
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	103.26±1.9 km[3] 90.18 ± 2.80 km[4]
Mass	(1.79 ± 0.42) × 1018 kg[4]
Mean density	4.64 ± 1.17 g/cm3[4]
Synodic rotation period	13.625 h (0.5677 d)
Geometric albedo	0.2330±0.009
Spectral type	S
Apparent magnitude	8.2
Absolute magnitude (H)	7.13

Close

This is an S-type asteroid around 86 km with an elliptical ratio of 1.51. The sidereal rotation period is 13.6217 hours.^[5]

Based on the lightcurve data obtained from Nausikaa, a possible satellite was reported in 1985. However, this has not been confirmed.^[6] A shape model of Nausikaa has been constructed, also based on the lightcurve data. It indicates a roughly cut, but not very elongated body.^[7] In 1998 an occultation of a star by the asteroid was observed from the United States.

In 1988 a search for satellites or dust orbiting this asteroid was performed using the UH88 telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories, but the effort came up empty.^[8]

Nausikaa's orbital period is 3.72 years, its distance from the Sun varying between 1.81 and 2.99 AU. The orbital eccentricity is 0.246. Nausikaa brightened to magnitude 8.3 at a quite favorable opposition on 2 September 2011, when it was 1.875 AU from the Sun and 0.866 AU from the Earth.