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37452 Spirit

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37452 Spirit
Discovery [1]
Discovered byC. J. van Houten
I. van Houten-G.
T. Gehrels
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date24 September 1960
Designations
(37452) Spirit
Named after
Spirit (rover)
(Mars Exploration Rover)[2]
4282 P-L · 2000 WD183
2000 WO133
main-belt · (outer)[1] · Hildian[3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc56.28 yr (20,555 days)
Aphelion4.8206 AU
Perihelion3.0794 AU
3.9500 AU
Eccentricity0.2204
7.85 yr (2,867 days)
55.498°
0° 7m 31.8s / day
Inclination8.2643°
352.31°
48.191°
Jupiter MOID0.8488 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions8.889±0.756 km[4]
0.056±0.022[4]
14.2[1]

37452 Spirit (provisional designation 4282 P-L) is a dark Hildian asteroid from the outermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter.

The asteroid was discovered on 24 September 1960, by Dutch astronomers Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden, on photographic plates taken by Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory, California.[3] It was named after NASA's Spirit Mars rover.[2]

Orbit and classification

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Spirit is a member of the Hilda family of asteroids, which stay in a 3:2 orbital resonance with the gas-giant Jupiter, meaning that for every two orbits Jupiter completes, a Hildian asteroid will complete three orbits. As their orbit does not cross the path of any of the planets, it will therefore not be pulled out of orbit by Jupiter's gravitational field and likely remain in a stable orbit for thousands of years.

Spirit orbits the Sun in the outermost main-belt at a distance of 3.1–4.8 AU once every 7 years and 10 months (2,867 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.22 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation, as no precoveries were taken and no prior identifications were made.[3]

Palomar–Leiden survey

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The survey designation "P-L" stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden Observatory where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand minor planets.[5]

Physical characteristics

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Spirit measures 8.9 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.056, which is typical value for carbonaceous C-type asteroids.[4] It has an absolute magnitude of 14.2.[1]

As of 2017, Spirit's rotation period and shape, as well as its spectral type remain unknown.[1][6]

Naming

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This minor planet was named by the discoverers for NASA's successful Mars rover Spirit which had been exploring the rocks and minerals in the Martian Gusev crater.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 September 2004 (M.P.C. 52770).[7] 39382 Opportunity, also an asteroid of the Hilda family and discovered on the same day, was named after Spirit's twin rover, Opportunity.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 37452 Spirit (4282 P-L)" (2017-01-03 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(37452) Spirit [3.97, 0.22, 8.2]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 204. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2401. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
  3. ^ a b c "37452 Spirit (4282 P-L)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Bauer, J.; Masiero, J.; Spahr, T.; McMillan, R. S.; et al. (January 2012). "WISE/NEOWISE Observations of the Hilda Population: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 744 (2): 15. arXiv:1110.0283. Bibcode:2012ApJ...744..197G. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/744/2/197. S2CID 44000310. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Minor Planet Discoverers". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. ^ "LCDB Data for (37452) Spirit". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  7. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
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