| A three-dimensional model of 161 Athor based on its light curve. | |
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | James Craig Watson |
| Discovery site | Detroit Observatory |
| Discovery date | 19 April 1876 |
| Designations | |
| (161) Athor | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæθər/ , [2] /ˈɑːθər/ [3] |
Named after | Hathor |
| A876 HA; 1899 TA; 1961 PF; 1973 YN4 | |
| Main belt [4] | |
| Orbital characteristics [4] [5] | |
| Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 116.50 yr (42551 d) |
| Aphelion | 2.70593 AU (404.801 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 2.05285 AU (307.102 Gm) |
| 2.37939 AU (355.952 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.137237 |
| 3.67 yr (1340.6 d) | |
| 348.807° | |
| 0° 16m 6.737s / day | |
| Inclination | 9.05986° |
| 18.6090° | |
| 2024-Jan-13 | |
| 295.007° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 44.19±3.3 km [4] Mean diameter [6] 47.0±0.2 km circular fit [7] |
| 7.280 h (0.3033 d) [4] 7.281 ± 0.001 hours [8] 7.288 ± 0.007 hours [9] | |
| 0.1980±0.033 [4] [6] | |
| M [10] | |
| 9.15 [4] [11] | |
161 Athor is an M-type Main belt asteroid that was discovered by James Craig Watson on April 19, 1876, at the Detroit Observatory [1] and named after Hathor, an Egyptian fertility goddess. It is the namesake of a proposed Athor asteroid family, estimated to be ~3 billion years old. [12]
Photometric observations of the minor planet in 2010 gave a rotation period of 7.2798±0.0001 h with an amplitude of 0.19±0.02 in magnitude. This result is consistent with previous determinations. [13] An occultation by Athor was observed, on October 15, 2002, showing an estimated diameter of 47.0 kilometres (29.2 mi). [7] The spectra is similar to that of carbonaceous chondrites, with characteristics of ferric oxides and little or no hydrated minerals. [14]
Pales is a large, dark main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by German-French astronomer Hermann Goldschmidt on 19 September 1857 from his balcony in Paris. The asteroid is named after Pales, the goddess of shepherds in Roman mythology. Since it was discovered on the same night as 48 Doris, geologist Élie de Beaumont suggested naming the two "The Twins".
Panopaea is a large main belt asteroid. Its orbit is close to those of the Eunomia asteroid family; however, Panopaea is a dark, primitive carbonaceous C-type asteroid in contrast to the S-type asteroids of the Eunomian asteroids. The spectra of the asteroid displays evidence of aqueous alteration. Photometric studies give a rotation period of 15.797 hours and an amplitude of 0.11±0.01 in magnitude. Previous studies that suggested the rotation period may be twice this amount were rejected based upon further observation.
Galatea is a large C-type main-belt asteroid. Its carbonaceous surface is very dark in color with an albedo of just 0.034. Galatea was found by the prolific comet discoverer Ernst Tempel on August 29, 1862, in Marseilles, France. It was his third asteroid discovery. It is named after one of the two Galateas in Greek mythology. A stellar occultation by Galatea was observed on September 8, 1987. The name Galatea has also been given to one of Neptune's satellites.
Terpsichore is a large and very dark main-belt asteroid. It has most probably a very primitive carbonaceous composition. It was found by the prolific comet discoverer Ernst Tempel on September 30, 1864. It is named after Terpsichore, the Muse of dance in Greek mythology.
Miriam is a moderately large, very dark main belt asteroid. It was discovered by C. H. F. Peters on August 22, 1868, from the Litchfield Observatory.
Artemis is a main-belt asteroid that was discovered by J. C. Watson on September 16, 1868, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was named after Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, Moon, and crossways in Greek Mythology.
Ate is a main-belt asteroid discovered by the German-American astronomer C. H. F. Peters on August 14, 1870, and named after Ate, the goddess of mischief and destruction in Greek mythology. In the Tholen classification system, it is categorized as a carbonaceous C-type asteroid, while the Bus asteroid taxonomy system lists it as an Ch asteroid.

Nuwa is a large main-belt asteroid with an orbital period of 5.15 years. It was discovered by Canadian-American astronomer James Craig Watson on October 18, 1875, and named after Nüwa, the Chinese creator goddess. This object is a candidate member of the Hecuba group of asteroids that orbit near the 2:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter. Based upon the spectrum it is classified as a C-type asteroid, which indicates that it is probably composed of primitive carbonaceous chondritic material and the surface is exceedingly dark.
Dynamene is a large dark main-belt asteroid that was discovered by German-American astronomer Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters on July 27, 1879, in Clinton, New York. The name derives from Dynamene, one of the fifty Nereids in Greek mythology. Based upon its spectrum, 200 Dynamene is classified as a C-type asteroid, indicating that it probably has a primitive composition similar to the carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. The spectra of the asteroid displays evidence of aqueous alteration.

333 Badenia is a large background asteroid, approximately 72 kilometers in diameter, located the outer region of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 22 August 1892, by astronomer Max Wolf at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany. The carbonaceous C-type asteroid has a rotation period of 9.9 hours. It was named after the historical Grand Duchy of Baden that existed until 1918, and where the discovering observatory is located. Badenia was the first asteroid to receive a provisional designation.
Vienna is a typical Main belt asteroid. It was discovered by French astronomer Auguste Charlois on 19 December 1894 in Nice, and was most likely named after the city of Vienna, Austria. This object is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 2.64 AU with an orbital eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.246 and a period of 4.28 yr. The orbital plane is inclined at an angle of 12.85° to the ecliptic.
Herodias is a carbonaceous asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 66 kilometers in diameter. It is an identified Eunomian interloper. It was named after the biblical character Herodias.
653 Berenike is a main-belt asteroid discovered on 27 November 1907 by Joel Hastings Metcalf at Taunton, Massachusetts. It is named after Berenice II of Egypt, after whom the constellation Coma Berenices is also named. The name may have been inspired by the asteroid's provisional designation 1907 BK.
745 Mauritia is a dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 24 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 1 March 1913, by German astronomer Franz Kaiser at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in Germany. The presumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid has a rotation period of 9.9 hours. It was named after Saint Maurice, patron of the Saint Mauritius church in the city of Wiesbaden, where the discoverer was born.
756 Lilliana is a minor planet orbiting the Sun that was discovered by American astronomer Joel Hastings Metcalf on 26 April 1908 from Taunton, Massachusetts. It rotates around its axis of rotation every 9.36 hours.
783 Nora is a dark background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa at the Vienna Observatory on 18 March 1914. The carbonaceous C-type asteroid has a longer-than average rotation period of 55.5 hours and measures approximately 40 kilometers in diameter. It was likely named after Nora Helmer, principal character in the play A Doll's House by Norwegian poet Henrik Ibsen.
788 Hohensteina is a main-belt asteroid discovered on 4 April 1914 by Franz Kaiser at Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory. Named for castle Hohenstein located in the Taunus mountains.

874 Rotraut is a dark and elongated background asteroid, approximately 58 kilometers in diameter, located in the outer region of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 25 May 1917, by astronomer Max Wolf at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory is southwest Germany. The hydrated carbonaceous C-type asteroid (Ch) has a rotation period of 14.3 hours. It was likely named after the ballad Schön Rotraut by German lyric poet Eduard Mörike (1804–1875).
924 Toni is a large background asteroid, approximately 80 kilometers in diameter, from the outer regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 20 October 1919, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory. The X-type asteroid has a rotation period of 19.4 hours. It was named "Toni", a common German female name unrelated to the discoverer's contemporaries, that was taken from the almanac Lahrer Hinkender Bote.
1240 Centenaria, provisional designation 1932 CD, is a background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 60 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 5 February 1932, by astronomer Richard Schorr at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg, Germany. The assumed C-type asteroid has a rotation period of 11.3 hours. It was named for the 100th anniversary of the discovering observatory.