244 Sita

244 Sita is a background asteroid from the inner region of the asteroid belt, approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) in diameter.^[1] It was discovered on 14 October 1884 by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa in the Vienna Observatory and was named for the Hindu deity Sita.^[5]

DiscoveredbyJohann Palisa

Discoverydate14 October 1884

MPCdesignation

(244) Sita

Pronunciation/ˈsiːtə/

Quick facts Discovery, Discovered by ...

244 Sita

3D model based on lightcurve data
Discovery
Discovered by	Johann Palisa
Discovery date	14 October 1884
Designations
MPC designation	(244) Sita
Pronunciation	/ˈsiːtə/
Named after	Sita
Alternative designations	A884 TA, 1900 UA 1957 KT, 1976 HY 1979 FL3
Minor planet category	main-belt
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	130.93 yr (47824 d)
Aphelion	2.47317 AU (369.981 Gm)
Perihelion	1.87531 AU (280.542 Gm)
Semi-major axis	2.17424 AU (325.262 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.13749
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.21 yr (1,171.0 d)
Mean anomaly	46.3767°
Mean motion	0° 18m 26.737s / day
Inclination	2.84423°
Longitude of ascending node	208.982°
Argument of perihelion	166.029°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	10.95±0.8 km[1] 11 km[2]
Mass	~2×1015 (estimate)
Mean density	~2.7 g/cm3 (estimate)[3]
Synodic rotation period	129.51 h (5.396 d)
Geometric albedo	0.1941±0.033[1] 0.194[2]
Spectral type	S[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)	11.9

Close

This minor planet is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 2.17 AU with an eccentricity of 0.137 and an orbital period of 3.21 yr. The orbital plane is tilted at an angle of 2.84° to the plane of the ecliptic.^[1] It is spinning slowly, completing a rotation about its axis once every 129.056 Â± 0.021 h (5.377 Â± 0.001 d).^[6]