It orbits the Sun at a distance of 4.9–5.6 AU once every 12 years and 1 month (4,403 days; semi-major axis of 5.26 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Palomar in September 1988.[1]
Physical characteristics
In the SDSS-based taxonomy, Polydoros is a dark D-type asteroid.[10] It has also been characterized as a D-type by Pan-STARRS' survey.[7][9] Its V–I color index of 0.96 is typical for most larger D-type Jupiter trojans (see table below).[7]
Several subsequent observations during 2014–2018 by Daniel Coley and Robert D. Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies achieved a good period determination,[8][13][a] with the best-rated one from November 2015, which gave a period of 7.517±0.001 hours and an amplitude of 0.17 magnitude (U=3).[7][8]
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Polydoros measures 54.96 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.064,[6] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for a carbonaceous asteroid of 0.057, and calculates a diameter of 55.67 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.0.[7]
100+ largest Jupiter trojans
Largest Jupiter Trojans by survey(A) (mean-diameter in kilometers; YoD: Year of Discovery)
Note: missing data was completed with figures from the JPL SBDB (query) and from the LCDB (query form) for the WISE/NEOWISE and SIMPS catalogs, respectively. These figures are given in italics. Also, listing is incomplete above #100.
Naming
This minor planet was named by the discoverer from Greek mythology after the Trojan prince Polydorus, the youngest and swiftest of King Priam's many sons. Although forbidden by his father, Polydoros confronted Achilles anyway, and was killed by him beside the River Scamander, near his brother Lycaon(also see 4792 Lykaon).[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 April 1991 (M.P.C. 18144).[14]
Notes
^ abLightcurve plots of (4708) Polydoros from 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018, by Daniel Coley and Robert Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies (U81). Quality code is: 3-/3/3-/3- (lightcurve rating at CS3). Summary figures at the LCDB and CS3.
^ abcStephens, Robert D.; Coley, Daniel R.; Warner, Brian D.; French, Linda, M. (October 2016). "Lightcurves of Jovian Trojan Asteroids from the Center for Solar System Studies: L4 Greek Camp and Spies". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 43 (4): 323–331. Bibcode:2016MPBu...43..323S. ISSN1052-8091.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcVeres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. S2CID53493339.
^French, Linda M.; Stephens, Robert D.; Coley, Daniel R.; Megna, Ralph; Wasserman, Lawrence H. (July 2012). "Photometry of 17 Jovian Trojan Asteroids". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 39 (3): 183–187. Bibcode:2012MPBu...39..183F. ISSN1052-8091.
^Stephens, Robert D.; Coley, Daniel R.; French, Linda M. (July 2015). "Dispatches from the Trojan Camp - Jovian Trojan L5 Asteroids Observed from CS3: 2014 October - 2015 January". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 42 (3): 216–224. Bibcode:2015MPBu...42R.216S. ISSN1052-8091.
