4022 Nonna, provisional designation 1981 TL4, is a Vestian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 8 October 1981, by Soviet–Russian astronomer Lyudmila Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.[1] The asteroid was named after Soviet actress Nonna Mordyukova. The nearly fast rotator has an exceptionally low lightcurve-amplitude indicating a nearly spherical shape.[3]
It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.1–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,323 days; semi-major axis of 2.36 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The asteroid was first observed at Goethe Link Observatory in October 1952. The body's observation arc begins with its observation as 1966 PC at Crimea-Nauchnij in August 1966, more than 15 years prior to its official discovery observation.[1]
Physical characteristics
Nonna has been characterized as a Q- and V-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS' photometric survey,[8] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) assumes it to be a common S-type asteroid.[3] The overall spectral type of Vestian asteroids is typically that of a V-type.[9]: 23
Rotation period
Since 2006, several rotational lightcurves of Nonna have been obtained from photometric observations at Modra Observatory by astronomers Adrián Galád and Petr Pravec.[a][b][c] Analysis of the best-rated lightcurve from September 2006 gave a rotation period of 2.5877 hours with a brightness variation of 0.077 magnitude (U=3).[6][d] A measurement by French amateur astronomer René Roy gave a similar result of 2.62 hours, after using an alternative period solution.[7][e] All lightcurves showed an unusually low amplitude which is indicative for a spheroidal shape. The asteroid's short period is close to that of a fast rotator.
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Nonna measures 3.67 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an exceptionally high albedo of 0.907.[5] Conversely, CALL assumes a standard stony albedo of 0.20 and calculates a much larger diameter of 7.13 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 13.1.[3]
^ abPravec (2017) lightcurve plot of (4022) Nonna with a rotation period of 2.5873±0.0001 hours and an amplitude of 0.088 mag, from October 2017.
Ondrejov data obtained by the NEO Photometric Program and collaborating projects with data sheet
^ abGalad/Pravec (2006) lightcurve plot of (4022) Nonna with a rotation period of 2.578 hours and an amplitude of 0.077 mag, from September 2006.
Ondrejov data obtained by the NEO Photometric Program and collaborating projects with data sheet
^ abPeriod by René Roy from August 2003, corrected by the LCDB. Original period reported: 1.31 hours; amended to 2.62 hours. LCDB-comment: "this seems unlikely and so the double period was entered for the details record." Quality code of 2-.
^ abcdMasiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8.
^ abGalád, Adrián; Pravec, Petr; Gajdos, Stefan; Kornos, Leonard; Világi, Jozef (October 2007). "Seven Asteroids Studied from Modra Observatory in the Course of Binary Asteroid Photometric Campaign". Earth. 101 (1–2): 17–25. Bibcode:2007EM&P..101...17G. doi:10.1007/s11038-007-9146-6.