18 Melpomene

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18 Melpomene Melpomene symbol (fixed width).svg
18 Melpomene VLT (2021), deconvolved.pdf
Discovery
Discovered byJohn Russell Hind
Discovery dateJune 24, 1852
Designations
MPC designation
(18) Melpomene
Pronunciation/mɛlˈpɒmɪniː/[1]
Named after
Melpomenē
Minor planet category
Main belt
AdjectivesMelpomenean /mɛlpɒmɪˈniːən/[2]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch October 22, 2004 (JD 2453300.5)
Aphelion418.414 Gm (2.797 AU)
Perihelion268.472 Gm (1.795 AU)
343.443 Gm (2.296 AU)
Eccentricity0.218
1270.552 d (3.48 a)
205.245°
Inclination10.126°
150.547°
227.975°
Physical characteristics
Dimensionsc/a = 0.81±0.06[4]
170 × 155 × 129 km[5]
(150×125 km)[6]
(150×170 km)[7]
Mean diameter
141±2 km[4]
140.6±2.8 km (IRAS)[3]
Mass(4.5±0.9)×1018 kg[4]
3.0×1018 kg[5]
Mean density
3.06±0.62 g/cm3[4]
1.69±0.66 g/cm3[5]
0.482 21 d (11.57 h)[3][8]
0.221 (calculated)[4]
0.223[3][9]
S[3]
7.5[10] to 12.0
Absolute magnitude (H)
6.51[3]
0.23" to 0.059"

Melpomene (minor planet designation: 18 Melpomene) is a large, bright main-belt asteroid that was discovered by J. R. Hind on June 24, 1852,[11] and named after Melpomenē, the Muse of tragedy in Greek mythology. It is classified as an S-type asteroid and is composed of silicates and metals.

Melpomene occulted the star SAO 114159 on December 11, 1978. A possible Melpomenean satellite with a diameter at least 37 km was detected. The satellite candidate received a provisional designation S/1978 (18) 1.[12] In 1988 a search for satellites or dust orbiting this asteroid was performed using the UH88 telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories, but the effort came up empty.[13] Melpomene was observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993. It was able to resolve the asteroid's slightly elongated shape, but no satellites were detected.[6]

Melpomene has been studied by radar.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  2. ^ E.g. Tim Shephard (2014) Echoing Helicon
  3. ^ a b c d e f Yeomans, Donald K., "18 Melpomene", JPL Small-Body Database Browser, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e P. Vernazza et al. (2021) VLT/SPHERE imaging survey of the largest main-belt asteroids: Final results and synthesis. Astronomy & Astrophysics 54, A56
  5. ^ a b c Jim Baer (2008). "Recent Asteroid Mass Determinations". Personal Website. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  6. ^ a b Storrs, Alex; Weiss; Zellner; Burlsen; et al. (1999). "Imaging Observations of Asteroids with Hubble Space Telescope" (PDF). Icarus. 137 (2): 260–268. Bibcode:1999Icar..137..260S. doi:10.1006/icar.1999.6047. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  7. ^ Storrs, Alex; Dunne; Conan; Mugnier; et al. (2005). "A closer look at main belt asteroids 1: WF/PC images" (PDF). Icarus. 173 (2): 409–416. Bibcode:2005Icar..173..409S. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.08.007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Lightcurves and Map Data on Numbered Asteroids N° 1 TO 52225". AstroSurf. Archived from the original on 27 November 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Asteroid Data Archive". Planetary Science Institute. Archived from the original on 23 June 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  10. ^ Menzel, Donald H.; Pasachoff, Jay M. (1983). A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. p. 391. ISBN 0-395-34835-8.
  11. ^ "Numbered Minor Planets 1–5000", Discovery Circumstances, IAU Minor Planet center, retrieved 7 April 2013.
  12. ^ IAUC 3315: 1978 (18) 1; WZ Sge, Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, retrieved 5 July 2011.
  13. ^ Gradie, J.; Flynn, L. (March 1988), "A Search for Satellites and Dust Belts Around Asteroids: Negative Results", Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 19, pp. 405–406, Bibcode:1988LPI....19..405G.
  14. ^ Radar-Detected Asteroids and Comets, NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research, retrieved 30 October 2011.

External links[]

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