2035 Stearns
Mars-crossing asteroid
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2035 Stearns, provisional designation 1973 SC, is a bright Hungaria asteroid and sizable Mars-crosser inside the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 21 September 1973, by American astronomer James Gibson at the Leoncito Astronomical Complex in Argentina.[1] The transitional E-type asteroid has a long rotation period of 93 hours.[3] It was named after American astronomer Carl Leo Stearns.[1]
(American astronomer)
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | J. B. Gibson |
| Discovery site | El Leoncito Complex |
| Discovery date | 21 September 1973 |
| Designations | |
Named after | Carl Leo Stearns[1] (American astronomer) |
| 1973 SC · 1973 UG | |
| Mars-crosser[2] Hungaria[1][3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 44.35 yr (16,199 d) |
| Aphelion | 2.1317 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.6366 AU |
| 1.8841 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1314 |
| 2.59 yr (945 d) | |
| 134.07° | |
| 0° 22m 51.96s / day | |
| Inclination | 27.751° |
| 77.035° | |
| 200.71° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.6305 AU (245 LD) |
| Mars MOID | 0.1655 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 4.82±0.52 km[4] 5.28 km (derived)[3] 6.00±1.20 km[5] | |
| 51.89±0.20 h[6] 85±0.1 h[7] 93±1 h[8][a] | |
| 0.40 (assumed)[3] 0.443±0.177[5] 0.65±0.30[4] | |
| Tholen = E[2] SMASS = Xe[2][3][9] B–V = 0.737[2] U–B = 0.280[2] V–R = 0.440[7] | |
| 12.61[2][4][5] 13.0[3][10] | |
Orbit and classification
Stearns is a dynamical Hungaria asteroid, a large group that forms the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System.[1][3] It is also a Mars-crossing asteroid, a member of the dynamically unstable group, located between the main belt and near-Earth populations, and crossing the orbit of Mars at 1.666 AU.[2]
The asteroid orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.64–2.13 AU once every 2 years and 7 months (945 days; semi-major axis of 1.88 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 28° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]
The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar Observatory in January 1954, nearly 20 years prior to its official discovery observation at Leoncito.[1]
Physical characteristics
In the Tholen classification, Stearns is a bright E-type asteroid.[2] while in the SMASS classification and Bus-DeMeo taxonomy, it is an Xe-subtype that transitions from the X-type to the E-type.[9]
Rotation period
Several rotational lightcurve of Stearns have been obtained from photometric observations since 1988.[6][7][8] Analysis of the best-rated lightcurve by Robert Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies (U81) gave a rotation period of 93 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.20 magnitude (U=2+). This makes the asteroid as close slow rotator.[3][a]
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Stearns measures between 4.82 and 6.00 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.443 and 0.65.[4][5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for members of the Hungaria family of 0.40, and derives a diameter of 5.28 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 13.0.[3]
Naming
This minor planet was named after Carl Leo Stearns (1892–1972), American astronomer at Wesleyan University and Van Vleck Observatory who measured a large number of stellar parallaxes.[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 November 1978 (M.P.C. 4548).[11] The lunar crater Stearns was also named in his honor.
Notes
- Lightcurve plot of (2035) Stearns with a rotation period 93±1 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.20 mag. Taken by Robert Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) in 2014. Quality code is 2+. Summary figures at the LCDB.