Astronomy:1220 Crocus

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1220 Crocus
001220-asteroid shape model (1220) Crocus.png
Shape model of Crocus from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date11 February 1932
Designations
(1220) Crocus
Pronunciation/ˈkrkəs/[4]
Named afterCrocus[2]
1932 CU · 1955 PC
Minor planet categorymain-belt · Eos[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc85.31 yr (31,161 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}3.2243 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.7807 AU
3.0025 AU
Eccentricity0.0739
Orbital period5.20 yr (1,900 days)
Mean anomaly204.16°
Mean motion0° 11m 21.84s / day
Inclination11.365°
Longitude of ascending node113.34°
333.41°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions17.866±0.175[5]
Rotation period491.4±0.1[6]
Geometric albedo0.114±0.020[5]
S[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)11.72[1]


1220 Crocus, provisionally designated 1932 CU, is a stony Eoan asteroid and slow rotator from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 17 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 February 1932, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany.[7]

Orbit and classification

Crocus is a member of the Eos family, a collisional population of mostly stony composition. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.8–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 2 months (1,900 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] A

Physical characteristics

The asteroid has been characterized as a stony S-type asteroid.[3]

In December 2014, a rotational lightcurve of Crocus was obtained from photometric observations by an international collaboration of several astronomers from Europe and the United States. Lightcurve analysis gave a long rotation period of 491 hours with a brightness variation of 1.00 magnitude ({{{1}}}).[6]

Naming

This minor planet was later named after the genus of flowering plants, Crocus, in the iris family.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1220 Crocus (1932 CU)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2001220. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1220) Crocus". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1220) Crocus. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 102. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1221. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "LCDB Data for (1220) Crocus". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=1220%7CCrocus. 
  4. crocus (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, September 2005, http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=crocus  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R. et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal 791 (2): 11. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. Bibcode2014ApJ...791..121M. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2014ApJ...791..121M. Retrieved 15 June 2017. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Pilcher, Frederick; Benishek, Vladimir; Franco, Lorenzo; Harris, A. W.; Klinglesmith, Daniel A. III; Hanowell, Jesse et al. (July 2015). "Rotation Period Determination for 1220 Crocus". The Minor Planet Bulletin 42 (3): 155–157. ISSN 1052-8091. Bibcode2015MPBu...42..155P. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2015MPBu...42..155P. Retrieved 15 June 2017. 
  7. "1220 Crocus (1932 CU)". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=1220. 

External links