1809 Prometheus

For the moon of Saturn, see Prometheus (moon).

1809 Prometheus

Shape model of Prometheus from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered by	C. J. van Houten I. van Houten-G. T. Gehrels (Palomar–Leiden survey)
Discovery site	Palomar Obs.
Discovery date	24 September 1960
Designations
MPC designation	(1809) Prometheus
Pronunciation	/prəˈmiːθiːəs/[2]
Named after	Προμηθεύς Promētheys (Greek mythology)[3]
Alternative designations	2522 P-L · 1943 EA1 1955 SW · 1955 VA 1965 UR
Minor planet category	main-belt · (outer)
Adjectives	Promethean, -ian /prəˈmiːθiːən/[4]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	61.53 yr (22,473 days)
Aphelion	3.2256 AU
Perihelion	2.6245 AU
Semi-major axis	2.9251 AU
Eccentricity	0.1027
Orbital period (sidereal)	5.00 yr (1,827 days)
Mean anomaly	163.57°
Mean motion	0° 11^m 49.2^s / day
Inclination	3.2585°
Longitude of ascending node	99.484°
Argument of perihelion	231.33°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	14.212±0.097 km[5]
Geometric albedo	0.126±0.010[5]
Absolute magnitude (H)	11.7[1]

1809 Prometheus /prəˈmiːθiːəs/ is an asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 14 kilometers in diameter. Discovered during the Palomar–Leiden survey in 1960, it was given the provisional designation 2522 P-L and named after Prometheus from Greek mythology.[3]

Orbit and classification

Prometheus orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.6–3.2 AU once every 5.00 years (1,827 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Discovery

It was discovered on 24 September 1960, by the Dutch astronomer couple Ingrid and Cornelis Johannes van Houten at Leiden, on photographic plates taken by Dutch–American astronomer Tom Gehrels at Palomar, California, in the United States.[6] On the same night, the team of astronomers discovered several other minor planets including 1810 Epimetheus.

Prometheus was first identified as 1943 EA₁ at the Hungarian Konkoly Observatory in 1943. In 1955, its first used observation was taken at Goethe Link Observatory, when it was identified as 1955 SW, extending the body's observation arc by 5 years prior to its official discovery observation.[6]

The survey designation "P-L" stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden, where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand minor planets.[7]

Naming

This minor planet was named for Prometheus, a Titan from Greek mythology, who stole the fire from the gods. The name has also been given to a moon of Saturn, Prometheus (moon), discovered by the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1980.[3] The asteroid 1810 Epimetheus is named after his brother. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 (M.P.C. 3934).[8]

Physical characteristics

According to the surveys carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Prometheus measures 14.2 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo of 0.126.[5] As of 2017, its spectral type, rotation period and shape remain unknown.

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1809 Prometheus (2522 P-L)" (2017-03-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
2. "Prometheus". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
3. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1809) Prometheus". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1809) Prometheus. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 145. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1810. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
4. "Promethean". Lexico UK English Dictionary UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
5. Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
6. "1809 Prometheus (2522 P-L)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
7. "Minor Planet Discoverers". Minor Planet Center. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
8. Schmadel, Lutz D. "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. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
• 1809 Prometheus at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 1809 Prometheus at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters