281 Lucretia

281 Lucretia is an asteroid belonging to the Flora family in the Main Belt.^[4] It was discovered by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa on 31 October 1888 in Vienna, and is named after the middle name of Caroline Herschel, one of the first female astronomers.^[6] Light curves of this asteroid show a synodic rotation period of 4.349±0.001 h with an amplitude of 0.3–0.4 magnitude. The spin axis appears nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic.^[4]

DiscoveredbyJohann Palisa

Discoverydate31 October 1888

MPCdesignation

(281) Lucretia

Pronunciation/luːˈkriːʃə/

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281 Lucretia

A three-dimensional model of 281 Lucretia based on its light curve
Discovery
Discovered by	Johann Palisa
Discovery date	31 October 1888
Designations
MPC designation	(281) Lucretia
Pronunciation	/luːˈkriːʃə/
Named after	Caroline Lucretia Herschel
Alternative designations	A888 UC, 1906 FD 1948 EK, 1984 JX
Minor planet category	Main belt (Flora family)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	126.00 yr (46020 d)
Aphelion	2.47750 AU (370.629 Gm)
Perihelion	1.89821 AU (283.968 Gm)
Semi-major axis	2.18786 AU (327.299 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.13239
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.24 yr (1182.0 d)
Mean anomaly	161.880°
Mean motion	0° 18m 16.423s / day
Inclination	5.30407°
Longitude of ascending node	31.4134°
Argument of perihelion	16.7540°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	11.76±0.9 km[1] 12 km[2]
Mean density	~2.7 g/cm3[3]
Synodic rotation period	0.181 d (4.348 h)[4]
Geometric albedo	0.1987±0.035[1] 0.199[2]
Spectral type	S[5]
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.02

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