79912 Terrell

79912 Terrell
Discovery [1]
Discovered byW. R. Cooney Jr.
E. Kandler
Discovery siteBaton Rouge Obs.
Discovery date10 February 1999
Designations
(79912) Terrell
Named after
Dirk Terrell [2]
(American astrophysicist)
1999 CC3 · 1996 PP1
main-belt · (middle)
Adeona [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc20.65 yr (7,543 days)
Aphelion3.1043 AU
Perihelion2.2475 AU
2.6759 AU
Eccentricity0.1601
4.38 yr (1,599 days)
318.81°
0° 13m 30.72s / day
Inclination10.689°
307.69°
326.67°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.340±0.744 km[4]
0.053±0.012[4]
14.9[1]

79912 Terrell (provisional designation 1999 CC3) is a dark Adeonian asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 10 February 1999, by astronomers Walter Cooney and Ethan Kandler at the Highland Road Park Observatory, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.[5] The asteroid was named after American astrophysicist Dirk Terrell.[2]

Orbit and classification

Terrell is a member of the Adeona family (505),[3] a large family of carbonaceous asteroids in the central main belt, named after 145 Adeona.[6]: 23 

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.2–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 5 months (1,599 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.16 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The body's observation arc begins with its identification as 1996 PP1 by AMOS at Haleakala Observatory in August 1996, more than two years prior to its official discovery observation at Baton Rouge.[5]

Physical characteristics

The asteroid's spectral type is unknown. Members of the Adeona family are typically carbonaceous C-type asteroids,[6]: 23  which Terrell's albedo agrees with.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Terrell measures 6.340 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a low albedo of 0.053.[4]

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Terrell has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[7]

Naming

This minor planet was named after American Dirk Terrell (born 1965), an astrophysicist, writer, space artist, and mentor of amateur astronomers.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 18 September 2005 (M.P.C. 54829).[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 79912 Terrell (1999 CC3)" (2017-03-31 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(79912) Terrell [2.67, 0.16, 10.7]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 232. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2767. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid 79912 Terrell – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Masiero, 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. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "79912 Terrell (1999 CC3)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
  7. ^ "LCDB Data for (79912) Terrell". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  8. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 October 2017.