The asteroid was first observed as A916 KA at Simeiz in May 1916. The body's observation arc begins as 1920 HA at Heidelberg Observatory in April 1920, or more than 5 years prior to its official discovery observation at Simeiz.[1]
Physical characteristics
Mussorgskia has been characterized as a common X-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS' photometric survey. It is also characterized as a carbonaceous C-type asteroid in the SDSS-MFB (Masi Foglia Binzel) taxonomy.[4][a]
Rotation period
In May 2002, two rotational lightcurves of Mussorgskia were obtained from photometric observations by Stephen Brincat at the Flarestar Observatory in Malta and by French amateur astronomer René Roy. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 5.519 and 5.6362 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.20 and 0.21 magnitude, respectively (U=2/3).[10][11] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link adopts a period of 5.636 hours and a brightness variation between 0.2 and 0.21 magnitude (U=3).[4]
CALL assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and consequently calculates a larger diameter of 36.78 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.9.[4]
^ abcSearch for Unusual Spectroscopic Candidates Among 40313 minor planets from the 3rd Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Object Catalog (publication). SDSS-MFB (Masi Foglia Binzel) taxonomy (catalog).
^Schmadel, Lutz D. (2009). "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN978-3-642-01964-7.