| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | R. Tucker |
| Discovery site | Goodricke–Pigott Obs. |
| Discovery date | 9 January 1997 |
| Designations | |
| (39741) Komm | |
Named after | Rudolf Komm (helioseismologist) [2] |
| 1997 AT6 ·1999 LM28 | |
| Mars crosser [1] [3] [4] | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 20.15 yr (7,358 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.9461 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.4189 AU |
| 2.1825 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3499 |
| 3.22 yr (1,178 days) | |
| 175.16° | |
| 0° 18m 20.52s / day | |
| Inclination | 6.3383° |
| 225.71° | |
| 126.19° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.4267 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 2.15 km (calculated) [3] |
| 5.95±0.01 h [5] | |
| 0.20 (assumed) [3] | |
| S [3] | |
| 15.7 [1] [3] | |
39741 Komm (provisional designation 1997 AT6) is a stony asteroid and eccentric Mars-crosser from the innermost regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 2 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 January 1997, by American astronomer Roy Tucker at Goodricke-Pigott Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, United States. [4] The asteroid was named for American helioseismologist Rudolf Komm. [2]
Komm orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.4–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,178 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.35 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic. [1] As no precoveries were taken, the asteroid's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation. [4]
In October 2009, the first and so far only rotational lightcurve of Komm was obtained by French amateur astronomer René Roy. It gave a well-defined rotation period of 5.95±0.01 hours with a high brightness variation of 0.83 magnitude, indicative of a non-spheroidal shape ( U=3 ). [5]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 2.15 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 15.7. [3]
This minor planet was named after Rudolf Walter Komm (born 1957), an American helioseismologist, who contributed in the study of solar activity. [2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 ( M.P.C. 49283). [6]
