110393 Rammstein

110393 Rammstein
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byJ.-C. Merlin
Discovery siteLe Creusot Obs.
Discovery date11 October 2001
Designations
(110393) Rammstein
Named after
Rammstein[2]
(industrial metal band)
2001 TC8
main-belt · (middle)
background[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc15.62 yr (5,704 days)
Aphelion2.9427 AU
Perihelion2.4774 AU
2.7101 AU
Eccentricity0.0859
4.46 yr (1,630 days)
167.18°
0° 13m 15.24s / day
Inclination12.164°
217.13°
222.53°
Physical characteristics
3.0 km (est. at 0.20)[4]
5.5 km (est. at 0.06)[4]
15.0[1]

110393 Rammstein (provisional designation 2001 TC8) is a background asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 October 2001, by French astronomer Jean-Claude Merlin at the Le Creusot Observatory in France. The asteroid was named after the German industrial metal band Rammstein.[2]

Orbit and classification

Rammstein is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.5–2.9 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,630 days; semi-major axis of 2.71 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins with its first observation made by LONEOS at Lowell Observatory in September 2001, less than a month prior to its official discovery observation at Le Creusot.[2] A telescope is required to see Rammstein, as its maximum brightness is 1⁄48193 of the brightness of the faintest objects that can be seen with the unaided eye.[5]

Physical characteristics

The asteroid's spectral type is unknown.[1]

Diameter and albedo

Rammstein has not been observed by any of the space-based surveys such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite or the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, the asteroid measures 3.0 and 5.5 kilometers in diameter based on an absolute magnitude of 15.0 and a geometric albedo of 0.20 and 0.06, which roughly correspond to a body of carbonaceous and stony composition, respectively (both types are common in the central asteroid belt).[2][4] The Minor Planet Center (MPC) similarly estimates the object's mean diameter to be between 3 and 6 kilometers.[5]

Rotation period

As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Rammstein has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, shape and poles remain unknown.[1][6]

Naming

This minor planet was named after the German NDH-Metal band Rammstein, which in turn took its name from the city of Ramstein after the tragic 1988 air show disaster at Ramstein Air Base.[2] The official naming citation was published by the MPC on 19 February 2006 (M.P.C. 55989).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 110393 Rammstein (2001 TC8)" (2017-05-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "110393 Rammstein (2001 TC8)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid 110393 Rammstein – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "110393 Rammstein – Special page". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. ^ "LCDB Data for (110393) Rammstein". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 January 2018.