196 Philomela

196 Philomela is a large and bright main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by C. H. F. Peters on May 14, 1879, in Clinton, New York. The asteroid is named after Philomela, the woman who became a nightingale in Greek mythology.^[6]

DiscoveredbyC. H. F. Peters, 1879

Discoverydate14 May 1879

MPCdesignation

(196) Philomela

Pronunciation/fɪloʊˈmiːlə/^[1]

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196 Philomela

A three-dimensional model of 196 Philomela based on its light curve.
Discovery
Discovered by	C. H. F. Peters, 1879
Discovery date	14 May 1879
Designations
MPC designation	(196) Philomela
Pronunciation	/fɪloʊˈmiːlə/[1]
Alternative designations	A879 JA; 1934 JO
Minor planet category	Main belt
Adjectives	Philomelian /fɪloʊˈmiːliən/[1]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	136.91 yr (50005 d)
Aphelion	3.1723 AU (474.57 Gm)
Perihelion	3.0630 AU (458.22 Gm)
Semi-major axis	3.1177 AU (466.40 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.017530
Orbital period (sidereal)	5.50 yr (2010.7 d)
Mean anomaly	276.49°
Mean motion	0° 10m 44.544s / day
Inclination	7.2554°
Longitude of ascending node	72.384°
Argument of perihelion	195.69°
Earth MOID	2.04771 AU (306.333 Gm)
Jupiter MOID	1.83421 AU (274.394 Gm)
TJupiter	3.204
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	136.39±6.3 km[2] 145.29 ± 7.71 km[3]
Mass	(4.00 ± 1.53) × 1018 kg[3]
Mean density	2.48 ± 1.02 g/cm3[3]
Synodic rotation period	8.3340 h (0.34725 d)[2] 8.332827 hours[4]
Geometric albedo	0.2299±0.023
Spectral type	S[5]
Absolute magnitude (H)	6.54

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This object is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 3.12 AU with a low eccentricity of 0.018 and an orbital period of 5.50 years. The orbital plane is inclined at an angle of 7.26° to the plane of the ecliptic. This is a stony S-type asteroid^[5] with a diameter of approximately 145 km. It is spinning with a rotation period of 8.334 hours.^[2]

In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide gathered light curve data that was ultimately used to derive the spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including 196 Philomela. The shape model for this asteroid is described as asymmetrical and smooth, while the light curve varies by up to 0.4 in magnitude.^[4][7]

To date there have been two reported Philomelian stellar occultations.^{[citation needed]}