![]() Shape model of Ganymed from its lightcurve | |
Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | W. Baade |
Discovery site | Bergedorf Obs. |
Discovery date | 23 October 1924 |
Designations | |
(1036) Ganymed | |
Pronunciation | /ˈɡænəmɛd/ |
Named after | Ganymede [2] (Greek mythology) |
1924 TD ·1952 BF 1954 HH | |
Amor [1] [3] · NEO | |
Adjectives | Ganymedean /ɡænəˈmiːdiən/ |
Orbital characteristics [3] | |
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
Observation arc | 93.69 yr (34,221 d) |
Aphelion | 4.0837 AU |
Perihelion | 1.2421 AU |
2.6629 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.5335 |
4.35 yr (1,587 d) | |
183.36° | |
0° 13m 36.48s / day | |
Inclination | 26.693° |
215.55° | |
132.45° | |
Earth MOID | 0.3415 AU (133 LD) |
Mars MOID | 0.03287 AU [1] |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 39.3 km × 18.9 km [4] |
31.66±2.8 km [5] 35.01±0.78 km [6] 37.675±0.399 km [7] [8] [9] | |
10.297 h [10] [11] | |
0.218 [8] [9] 0.243 [6] 0.2926 [5] | |
Tholen = S [4] SMASS = S [4] [10] S [4] [12] [13] U–B = 0.417 [3] B–V = 0.882±0.008 [12] V–R = 0.515±0.004 [12] V–I = 0.981±0.005 [12] | |
9.45 [1] [3] [5] [6] [8] [9] 9.50 [10] [14] | |
1036 Ganymed, provisional designation 1924 TD, is a stony asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Amor group. It was discovered by German astronomer Walter Baade at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg on 23 October 1924, and named after Ganymede from Greek mythology. [1] [2] With a diameter of approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles), Ganymed is the largest of all near-Earth objects but does not cross Earth's orbit. The S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 10.3 hours. In October 2024, it is predicted to approach Earth at a distance of 56,000,000 km; 35,000,000 mi (0.374097 AU). [15]
Ganymed is an Amor asteroid, a subgroup of the near-Earth asteroids that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.2–4.1 AU about once every 4 years and 4 months (i.e., 52 months or 1,587 days; semi-major axis of 2.66 AU). Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.53 and an inclination of 27° with respect to the ecliptic. [3] The body's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory on 24 October 1924 , the night after its official discovery observation. [1]
Ganymed has a minimum orbit intersection distance with Earth of 0.3415 AU (51,000,000 km), or 133 lunar distance. Its next pass of the Earth will be at a distance of 0.374097 AU (56,000,000 km; 34,800,000 mi) on 13 October 2024 . [15] [ needs update ]
Due to the high eccentricity of its orbit, Ganymed is also a Mars-crosser, intersecting the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU. On 16 December 2176 , it will pass at a distance of 0.02868 AU (4,290,000 km; 2,670,000 mi) from Mars. [15]
The minor planet of Ganymed was named after Ganymede from Greek mythology, using the German spelling ("Ganymed"). Ganymede was a Trojan prince abducted by Zeus to serve as a cup-bearer to the Greek gods. The name had previously also been given to Jupiter's third moon, "Ganymede", which was discovered in 1610 by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. [2]
Owing to its early discovery date, Ganymed has a rich observational history. A 1931 paper published the absolute magnitude, based on observations to date, as 9.24, [16] slightly brighter than the present value of 9.45.
Ganymed is a stony S-type asteroid, in the Tholen, SMASS and in the S3OS2 taxonomy. This means that it is relatively reflective and composed of iron and magnesium silicates. Spectral measurements put Ganymed in the S (VI) spectral subtype, [13] indicating a surface rich in orthopyroxenes, and possibly metals (although if metals are present they are covered and not readily apparent in the spectra). [13]
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), Ganymed measures between 31.66 and 37.67 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.218 and 0.293. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.2809 and a mean-diameter of 31.57 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 9.50. [10] Carry published a diameter 34.28±1.38 kilometers in 2012. [17]
An occultation of a star by Ganymed was observed from California on 22 August 1985. [4] Additional observations in 2011 gave an occultation cross-section with a semi-major and minor axis of 39.3 and 18.9 kilometers, respectively. [4]
A large number of rotational lightcurves of Ganymed have been obtained from photometric observations since 1985. [18] [19] [20] [14] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] Analysis of the best-rated lightcurves obtained by American photometrist Frederick Pilcher at his Organ Mesa Observatory ( G50 ) in New Mexico during 2011 gave a rotation period of 10.297 hours with a consolidated brightness amplitude between 0.28 and 0.31 magnitude ( U=3-/3/3 ). [10] [11]
Three studies using modeled photometric data from the Uppsala Asteroid Photometric Catalogue, WISE thermal infrared data and other sources, gave a concurring period of 10.313, 10.31284, and 10.31304 hours, respectively. Each modeled lightcurve also determined two spin axes of (214.0°, −73.0°), (190.0°, −78.0°), as well as (198.0°, −79.0°) in ecliptic coordinates (λ, β; L1/B1), respectively. [26] [27] [28]
In 1998, radar observations of Ganymed by the Arecibo radio telescope produced images of the asteroid, revealing a roughly spherical object. [29] Polarimetric observations conducted by Japanese astronomers concluded that there was a weak correlation between the object's light- and polarimetry curve as a function of rotation angle. [30] Because polarization is dependent on surface terrain and composition, rather than the observed size of the object like the lightcurve, this suggests that the surface features of the asteroid are roughly uniform over its observed surface. [30]
1620 Geographos is a highly elongated, stony asteroid, near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, with a mean diameter of approximately 2.5 km (1.6 mi). It was discovered on 14 September 1951, by astronomers Albert George Wilson and Rudolph Minkowski at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named in honor of the National Geographic Society.
63 Ausonia is a stony Vestian asteroid from the inner region of the asteroid belt, approximately 100 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on 10 February 1861, from the Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, in Naples, Italy. The initial choice of name for the asteroid was "Italia", after Italy, but this was modified to Ausonia, an ancient classical name for the Italian region.
11264 Claudiomaccone (provisional designation 1979 UC4) is a stony background asteroid and binary system from the middle regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered 16 October 1979, by Nikolai Chernykh at Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj, on the Crimean peninsula. It was named after the Italian astronomer Claudio Maccone.
1866 Sisyphus is a binary stony asteroid, near-Earth object and the largest member of the Apollo group, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter.
1627 Ivar is an elongated stony asteroid and near-Earth object of the Amor group, approximately 15×6×6 km. It was discovered on 25 September 1929, by Danish astronomer Ejnar Hertzsprung at Leiden Southern Station, annex to the Johannesburg Observatory in South Africa. It was named after Ivar Hertzsprung, brother of the discoverer. 1627 Ivar was the first asteroid to be imaged by radar, in July 1985 by the Arecibo Observatory.
1139 Atami, provisional designation 1929 XE, is a stony asteroid and sizable Mars-crosser, as well as a synchronous binary system near the innermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 1 December 1929, by Japanese astronomers Okuro Oikawa and Kazuo Kubokawa at the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory near Tokyo. It was named after the Japanese city of Atami. It has the lowest Minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) to Mars of any asteroid as large as it, its orbit intersecting only 0.03 astronomical units from the planet.
2363 Cebriones is a large Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 84 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 October 1977, by astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanking, China. The dark D-type asteroid is one of the 40 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 20 hours. It was named after Cebriones, Hektor's charioteer from Greek mythology.
1246 Chaka, provisional designation 1932 OA, is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 18 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 23 July 1932, by South African astronomer Cyril Jackson at the Union Observatory in Johannesburg. The uncommon A/Sl-type asteroid has a longer than average rotation period of 25.5 hours. It was named for the Zulu King Shaka.
1251 Hedera is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 13 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 25 January 1933, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany. The asteroid was named for the climbing plant Hedera, commonly known as "ivy".
7088 Ishtar, provisional designation 1992 AA, is a synchronous binary asteroid and near-Earth object from the Amor group, approximately 1.3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 1 January 1992, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The relatively bright asteroid with an unknown spectral type has a rotation period of 2.7 hours. In December 2005, a 330-meter sized satellite was discovered, orbiting its primary every 20.65 hours.
3800 Karayusuf, provisional designation 1984 AB, is a Mars-crossing asteroid and suspected binary system from inside the asteroid belt, approximately 2.5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 January 1984, by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at the Palomar Observatory in California. The S/L-type asteroid has a short rotation period of 2.2 hours. It was named after Syrian physician Alford Karayusuf, a friend of the discoverer.
1334 Lundmarka, provisional designation 1934 OB, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 30 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 16 July 1934, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany, and named after Swedish astronomer Knut Lundmark.
3066 McFadden, provisional designation 1984 EO, is a stony background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 15 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 1 March 1984, by American astronomer Edward Bowell at the Anderson Mesa Station near Tucson, Arizona. It was named for American planetary scientist Lucy-Ann McFadden. The assumed S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 13.8 hours.
1369 Ostanina is a dark and elongated asteroid of the Meliboea family, located in the outer region of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 27 August 1935, by Soviet astronomer Pelageya Shajn at the Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula. The hydrated carbonaceous C-type asteroid has a rotation period of 8.4 hours and measures approximately 42 kilometers in diameter. It was named for the Russian village of Ostanin, birthplace of the discoverer.
2893 Peiroos is a large Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 87 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 30 August 1975, by astronomers of the Felix Aguilar Observatory at the Leoncito Astronomical Complex in Argentina. The D-type asteroid has a rotation period of 8.96 hours and belongs to the 40 largest Jupiter trojans. It was named after Peiroos (Peirous) from Greek mythology.
1796 Riga, provisional designation 1966 KB, is a dark asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 70 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 16 May 1966, by Russian astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj, on the Crimean peninsula. It is named after the Latvian capital Riga.
1405 Sibelius, provisional designation 1936 RE, is a stony Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 12 September 1936, by Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä at Turku Observatory in Southwest Finland. The asteroid was named after composer Jean Sibelius.
11066 Sigurd (provisional designation 1992 CC1) is a stony contact binary asteroid classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group of asteroids, approximately 2.5 kilometers in diameter.
(7025) 1993 QA is a sub-kilometer asteroid classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo and Amor group, respectively. It was discovered on 16 August 1993, by astronomers of the Spacewatch program at the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona, United States. The asteroid measures approximately half a kilometer in diameter and has a short rotation period of 2.5057 hours.
(164121) 2003 YT1, provisional designation 2003 YT1, is a bright asteroid and synchronous binary system on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 18 December 2003, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey at the Catalina Station near Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. The V-type asteroid has a short rotation period of 2.3 hours. Its 210-meter sized minor-planet moon was discovered at Arecibo Observatory in May 2004.