2065 Spicer
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| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Indiana University (Indiana Asteroid Program) |
| Discovery site | Goethe Link Obs. |
| Discovery date | 9 September 1959 |
| Designations | |
| (2065) Spicer | |
Named after | Edward H. Spicer (American anthropologist)[2] |
| 1959 RN · 1952 BS1 1955 XC · 1968 QX 1973 YR2 | |
| main-belt · (middle)[3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 60.34 yr (22,038 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.3313 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.0659 AU |
| 2.6986 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.2345 |
| 4.43 yr (1,619 days) | |
| 350.70° | |
| 0° 13m 20.28s / day | |
| Inclination | 6.4348° |
| 328.09° | |
| 66.381° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 16.721±0.088 km[4][5] 18.43 km (calculated)[3] |
| 18.165±0.005 h[6][a] | |
| 0.057 (assumed)[3] 0.062±0.007[4][5] | |
| SMASS = Xc[1] · P[4] · X[3] | |
| 12.03±0.23[7] · 12.2[4] · 12.4[1][3] | |
2065 Spicer, provisional designation 1959 RN, is a dark and eccentric asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 17 kilometers in diameter.
The asteroid was discovered on 9 September 1959, by the Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, United States, and named after American anthropologist Edward H. Spicer.[2][8]
Spicer orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.1–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 5 months (1,619 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.23 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
Physical characteristics
Spicer's spectra is that of an X-type and Xc-type in SMASS classification scheme, which indicates a transitional stage to the carbonaceous C-type asteroid.[1] It has also been characterized as a P-type asteroid by the NEOWISE mission.[4]
Photometry
In January 2005, photometric measurements of Spicer made by American astronomer Brian Warner at the Palmer Divide Observatory (716) gave a lightcurve with a well-defined rotation period of 18.165±0.005 hours and a brightness variation of 1.0±0.03 magnitude (U=3).[6][a]
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Spicer measures 16.721 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.062,[4][5] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and calculates a diameter of 18.43 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 12.4.[3]
