 A three-dimensional model of 95 Arethusa based on its light curve. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Karl Theodor Robert Luther |
| Discovery date | 23 November 1867 |
| Designations | |
| (95) Arethusa | |
| Pronunciation | /ærəˈθjuːsə/ [1] |
| Main belt | |
| Adjectives | Arethusian, [2] Arethusean [3] /ˌærəˈθjuːziən/ |
| Orbital characteristics [4] | |
| Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 143.53 yr (52424 d) |
| Aphelion | 3.53176 AU (528.344 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 2.59737 AU (388.561 Gm) |
| 3.06457 AU (458.453 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.15245 |
| 5.36 yr (1959.5 d) | |
Average orbital speed | 16.91 km/s |
| 250.185° | |
| 0° 11m 1.385s / day | |
| Inclination | 12.9955° |
| 243.038° | |
| 154.196° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 136.04±10.1 km [4] 136.04 km † 147 ± 32 km [5] |
| Mass | 2.6×1018 kg |
Equatorial surface gravity | 0.0380 m/s2 (0.00387 g0) |
Equatorial escape velocity | 0.0719 km/s |
| 8.705 h (0.3627 d) | |
| 0.0698±0.012 [4] 0.070 [6] | |
| C | |
| 8.0 | |
95 Arethusa is a large main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by German astronomer Robert Luther on 23 November 1867, and named after one of the various Arethusas in Greek mythology. Arethusa has been observed occulting a star three times: [7] first on 2 February 1998, and twice in January 2003.[ citation needed ]
This object is orbiting the Sun with a period of 5.36 years and an eccentricity of 0.15. The cross-section diameter is around 136 km and it is spinning with a rotation period of 8.7 hours. The spectrum matches a C-type asteroid, indicating a dark surface with a primitive carbonaceous composition.
