1981 Midas
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | C. Kowal |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 6 March 1973 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | 1981 Midas |
|
Named after
|
Midas (mythology)[2] |
| 1973 EA | |
| Apollo · NEO · PHA[1] Venus crosser Mars crosser |
|
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 41.97 yr (15,330 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.9307 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.6215 AU |
| 1.7761 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.6500 |
| 2.37 yr (865 days) | |
| 283.35° | |
| Inclination | 39.830° |
| 356.90° | |
| 267.80° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0039 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 3.4 km[1] 1.95±0.07 km[3] |
| 5.220 h[4][5][6] | |
| 0.293±0.025[3] 0.2661 (derived)[7] |
|
| SMASS = V V [7] |
|
| 15.2[1] | |
1981 Midas, provisional designation 1973 EA, is a vestoid asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid, between 1.9 and 3.4 kilometers in diameter.[1] It was discovered on March 6, 1973 by American astronomer Charles Kowal at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.[8] In 1987 it was also detected by radar from Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex at a distance of 0.08 AU with a measured maximal radar cross-section of 0.1 km2.[9]
The moderately bright V-type asteroid is also an Apollo asteroid, as well as a Venus and Mars-crosser. The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.6–2.9 AU every 2 years and 4 months (865 days). It takes 5.2 hours to rotate once around its axis, as measured by several photometric light-curve observations.[4][5][6]
The orbit of Midas is well-determined with a condition code of 0, the lowest possible degree of uncertainty in orbital determination. It has a low minimum orbit intersection distance with Earth of 0.0039 AU (580,000 km; 360,000 mi), which corresponds to 1.55 lunar distance (Earth–Moon distance). However, it does not pose an impact risk for the foreseable future. Its last notable close approach to Earth was on 11 March 1992 passing 0.13332 AU (19,944,000 km; 12,393,000 mi) from Earth.[10] The next notable close approach will be on 21 March 2018 passing 0.08957 AU (13,399,000 km; 8,326,000 mi) from Earth[10] and shining at an apparent magnitude of +12.4.[11]
The asteroid is named after the figure from Greek mythology, Midas, the King of Phrygia, who turned whatever he touched to gold. Although he had chosen this gift as a reward for kind treatment of his captive, Silenus, he soon realized his mistake and was relieved of his power by bathing in the Pactolus River.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- IAUCs 2816, 2890,2979, 2991
- NeoDys Close Approaches from 1950 to 2100
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
- 1981 Midas at the JPL Small-Body Database
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