4429 Chinmoy

4429 Chinmoy
Chinmoy imaged in November 2015
Discovery [1]
Discovered byN. Chernykh
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Obs.
Discovery date12 September 1978
Designations
(4429) Chinmoy
Named after
Sri Chinmoy [1]
(Indian spiritual leader)
1978 RJ2 · 1978 RN1
1978 RR4 · 1980 FP2
1980 FX6 · 1987 DL2
main-belt [1][2] · (inner)
Nysa [3]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.18 yr (23,076 d)
Aphelion2.8874 AU
Perihelion1.8728 AU
2.3801 AU
Eccentricity0.2131
3.67 yr (1,341 d)
249.44°
0° 16m 6.24s / day
Inclination1.4590°
326.92°
68.070°
Physical characteristics
3.498±0.959 km[4]
0.229±0.145[4]
S (Nysian member)[3]
14.6[1][2]

4429 Chinmoy, provisional designation 1978 RJ2, is a Nysian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 12 September 1978, by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean Peninsula.[1] The likely S-type asteroid was named after Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy.[1]

Orbit and classification

Chinmoy moving across the sky

Chinmoy is a member of the Nysa family (405),[3] one of the largest asteroid families and part of the Nysa–Polana complex with nearly 20 thousand identified members.[5]

It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.9–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,341 days; semi-major axis of 2.38 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar Observatory in February 1954, more than 24 years prior to its official discovery observation at Nauchnij.[1]

Physical characteristics

Chinmoy has an absolute magnitude of 14.6.[2] While its spectral type has not been determined, it is likely a stony S-type asteroid based on its membership to the Nysa family and its albedo (see below).[2][3] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Chinmoy has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2]

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Chinmoy measures 3.498 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.229.[4]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007).[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 April 1994 (M.P.C. 23351).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "4429 Chinmoy (1978 RJ2)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4429 Chinmoy (1978 RJ2)" (2017-05-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Asteroid 4429 Chinmoy". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68.
  5. ^ Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
  6. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 23 May 2018.