738 Alagasta

738 Alagasta

Discovery
Discovered by	Franz Kaiser
Discovery site	Heidelberg
Discovery date	7 January 1913
Designations
MPC designation	(738) Alagasta
Pronunciation	/æləˈɡæstə/
Named after	Gau-Algesheim
Alternative designations	1913 QO
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	103.3 yr (37,720 d)
Aphelion	3.2040 AU (479.31 Gm)
Perihelion	2.8698 AU (429.32 Gm)
Semi-major axis	3.0369 AU (454.31 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.055023
Orbital period (sidereal)	5.29 yr (1,933.1 d)
Mean anomaly	146.545°
Mean motion	0° 11^m 10.428^s / day
Inclination	3.5344°
Longitude of ascending node	132.115°
Argument of perihelion	41.826°
Earth MOID	1.87517 AU (280.521 Gm)
Jupiter MOID	1.76226 AU (263.630 Gm)
TJupiter	3.236
Physical characteristics
Mean radius	31.395±0.6 km
Synodic rotation period	18.86 h (0.786 d)[1]
Geometric albedo	0.0398±0.002[1]
Absolute magnitude (H)	10.13[1]

738 Alagasta (/æləˈɡæstə/) is a main belt asteroid.[2] It was discovered from Heidelberg on 7 January 1913 by German astronomer Franz Kaiser. The asteroid was named in honor of Gau-Algesheim, previously Alaghastesheim, which is the home city of the discoverer's family.[3] This body is orbiting at a distance of 3.04 AU with a period of 5.29 years and an eccentricity of 0.055. The orbital plane is inclined at an angle of 3.53° to the plane of the ecliptic.[1]

Photometric measurements made of the asteroid during 2015 produced a light curve that showed a rotation period of 18.86±0.01 h with a brightness variation of 0.11 in magnitude.[2] The asteroid is roughly 63 km in diameter and has a low albedo.[1]

See also

• List of minor planets/701–800
• Meanings of minor planet names: 501–1000

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 738 Alagasta (1913 QO)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
2. Garceran, Alfonso Carreno; et al. (January 2016), "Nineteen Asteroids Lightcurves at Asteroids Observers (OBAS) - MPPD: 2015 April - September", Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, 43 (1): 92–97, Bibcode:2016MPBu...43...92G.
3. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2013), Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, p. 111, ISBN 9783662066157.

External links

• 738 Alagasta at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 738 Alagasta at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters