381 Myrrha

381 Myrrha
381 Myrrha photographed in the constellation of Leo, with Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628 nearby
Discovery
Discovered byAuguste Charlois
Discovery date10 January 1894
Designations
(381) Myrrha
Pronunciation/ˈmɪrə, ˈmɜːrə/
Named after
Myrrha
1894 AS
Main belt
SymbolSymbol for Myrrha: a woman turned into a tree, with tears / drops of myrrh
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc122.27 yr (44658 d)
Aphelion3.5124 AU (525.45 Gm)
Perihelion2.93357 AU (438.856 Gm)
3.22298 AU (482.151 Gm)
Eccentricity0.089797
5.79 yr (2113.4 d)
350.739°
0° 10m 13.224s / day
Inclination12.558°
125.102°
142.930°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions120.58±2.7 km[1]
147.2×126.6 km
123.41 ± 6.30 km[2]
Mass(9.18 ± 0.80) × 1018 kg[2]
Mean density
9.32 ± 1.64 g/cm3[2]
6.572 h (0.2738 d)
0.0609±0.003
C
8.25

381 Myrrha is a main-belt asteroid that was discovered by the French astronomer Auguste Charlois on January 10, 1894, in Nice.[3] It has been classified as a C-type asteroid and is most likely composed of carbonaceous material.

Photometric observations of this asteroid at the Oakley Observatory in Terre Haute, Indiana during 2006 gave a light curve with a period of 6.572 ± 0.002 hours and a brightness variation of 0.34 ± 0.05 in magnitude.[4]

10μ radiometric data collected from Kitt Peak in 1975 gave a diameter estimate of 126 km.[5] The occultation of Alhena (γ Geminorum) by Myrrha was observed in Japan and China on January 13, 1991, allowing the size and shape of Myrrha to be properly clarified.

References

  1. ^ a b Yeomans, Donald K., "381 Myrrha", JPL Small-Body Database Browser, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Carry, B. (December 2012), "Density of asteroids", Planetary and Space Science, vol. 73, pp. 98–118, arXiv:1203.4336, Bibcode:2012P&SS...73...98C, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.03.009. See Table 1.
  3. ^ "Numbered Minor Planets 1–5000", Discovery Circumstances, IAU Minor Planet center, retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. ^ Ditteon, Richard; Hawkins, Scot (September 2007), "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Oakley Observatory - October-November 2006", The Minor Planet Bulletin, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 59–64, Bibcode:2007MPBu...34...59D.
  5. ^ Morrison, D.; Chapman, C. R. (March 1976), "Radiometric diameters for an additional 22 asteroids", Astrophysical Journal, vol. 204, pp. 934–939, Bibcode:2008mgm..conf.2594S, doi:10.1142/9789812834300_0469, ISBN 978-981-283-426-3.


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