762 Pulcova

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762 Pulcova
762Pulcova-SwRI.gif
762 Pulcova and satellite as seen with adaptive optics in 2000[1]
Discovery[2]
Discovered by G. N. Neujmin
Discovery date September 3, 1913
Designations
1913 SQ
Main belt
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch January 4, 2010 (2455200.5)
Aphelion 3.4744 AU (Q)
Perihelion 2.8343 AU (q)
3.1543 AU (a)
Eccentricity 0.10146
5.60 yr
287.18° (M)
Inclination 13.089°
305.79°
189.06°
Known satellites S/2000 (762) 1[1]
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 137.08 km[2]
Mass 1.40×1018 kg[3]
Mean density
0.90 g/cm3[3]
5.839 hr[2]
Albedo 0.0458[2]
11.93 to 14.79[4]
8.28[2]

762 Pulcova is a main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Grigoriy N. Neujmin in 1913,[2] and is named after Pulkovo Observatory, near Saint Petersburg. Pulcova is 137 km in diameter,[2] and is a C-type asteroid, which means that it is dark in colouring with a carbonate composition.

Photometric observations of this asteroid from Leura, Australia during 2006 gave a light curve with a period of 5.8403 ± 0.0005 hours and a brightness variation of 0.20 ± 0.02 in magnitude. This result is in agreement with previous studies.[5]

Satellite

On February 22, 2000,[1] astronomers at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, discovered a small, 15-km moon (roughly a 10th the size of the primary)[6] orbiting Pulcova at a distance of 800 km.[7] Its orbital period is 4 days.[8] The satellite is about 4 magnitudes fainter than the primary.[7] It was one of the first asteroid moons to be identified.

Density

In the year 2000, Merline estimated Pulcova to have a density of 1.8 g/cm³, which would make it more dense than the trinary asteroid 45 Eugenia, and binary 90 Antiope.[7] But estimates by Marchis in 2008 suggest a density of only 0.90 g/cm³,[3] suggesting it may be a loosely packed rubble pile, not a monolithic object.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (AO image)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Magnitudes generated with JPL Horizons for the year 1950 through 2100
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (mentions both 90 Antiope and 762 Pulcova)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links