2064 Thomsen
Mars-crossing asteroid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2064 Thomsen (prov. designation: 1942 RQ) is a stony asteroid and Mars-crosser on an eccentric orbit, that measures approximately 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) in diameter. The asteroid was discovered by Finnish astronomer Liisi Oterma at Turku Observatory, Finland, on 8 September 1942.[3] It was named after New Zealand astronomer Ivan Leslie Thomsen
_Thomsen.png)
Shape model of Thomsen from its lightcurve | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | L. Oterma |
| Discovery site | Turku Obs. |
| Discovery date | 8 September 1942 |
| Designations | |
| (2064) Thomsen | |
Named after | Ivan Leslie Thomsen (New Zealand astronomer)[2] |
| 1942 RQ · 1958 RO 1974 OK · 1977 FE3 1977 KA · A913 QB | |
| Mars-crosser[1][3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 74.50 yr (27,211 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.8967 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.4600 AU |
| 2.1783 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3298 |
| 3.22 yr (1,174 days) | |
| 142.30° | |
| 0° 18m 23.76s / day | |
| Inclination | 5.6946° |
| 302.16° | |
| 2.7479° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.4446 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 8.09±0.12 km[4] 13.59 km (derived)[5] 13.61±1.6 km (IRAS:2)[6] | |
| 4.2267±0.0001 h[7] 4.233 h[8] 4.244023±0.000001 h[9] 4.253±0.005 h[10] | |
| 0.0549±0.015 (IRAS:2)[6] 0.0644 (derived)[5] 0.162±0.006[4] | |
| SMASS = S[1] · S[5][11][12] B–V = 0.887[1] U–B = 0.524[1] | |
| 12.6[1] · 12.93[5][8] · 13.10[4][6][12] · 13.44±0.31[11] | |
Orbit and classification
The S-type asteroid orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.5–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,174 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.33 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
Naming
This minor planet was named in memory of New Zealand astronomer Ivan Leslie Thomsen (1910–1969), director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington, from 1945 until he was appointed director of the Mount John University Observatory only two months before his death. He was an enthusiastic coordinator of New Zealand's astronomy and his efforts eventually led to the minor-planet observing program with the Carter Observatory 41-cm reflector. It was the 1977 rediscovery at the Carter Observatory that allowed this minor planet to be numbered. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 August 1978 (M.P.C. 4421).[2][13]
Physical characteristics
Four rotational lightcurves gave a well-defined rotation period of 4.233 hours with a brightness variation of 0.62–0.69 magnitude (U=3/3/ .a./3)[7][8][9][10] and an albedo of 0.055 and 0.16, as measured by the IRAS and Akari surveys, respectively.[4][6]