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5261 Eureka

5261 Eureka
Discovery[1]
Discovered by David H. Levy and Henry Holt
Discovery date June 20, 1990
Designations
Pronunciation
Named after
Eureka
1990 MB
Martian L5 Martian L5
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch November 4, 2013 (JD 2456600.5)
Aphelion 1.6222 AU (242.68 Gm)
Perihelion 1.4250 AU (213.18 Gm)
1.5236 AU (227.93 Gm)
Eccentricity 0.065
1.88 a (686.927 d)
Average orbital speed
24.11 km/s
85.945°
Inclination 20.282°
245.069°
95.501°
Known satellites 1
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 1.3[3] km
~2–4 kmH
Albedo 0.39[3]
Temperature ~250[3] K
Spectral type
S(I)[3] (Gaffey)
16.0[3]

5261 Eureka is the first Mars trojan discovered.[4] It was discovered by David H. Levy and Henry Holt at Palomar Observatory on June 20, 1990 from the Palomar Observatory.[1] It trails Mars (at the L5 point) at a distance varying by only 0.3 AU during each revolution (with a secular trend superimposed, changing the distance from 1.5–1.8 AU around 1850 to 1.3–1.6 AU around 2400). Minimum distances from the Earth, Venus, and Jupiter, are 0.5, 0.8, and 3.5 AU, respectively.

Long-term numerical integration shows that the orbit is stable. Kimmo A. Innanen and Seppo Mikkola note that "contrary to intuition, there is clear empirical evidence for the stability of motion around the L4 and L5 points of all the terrestrial planets over a timeframe of several million years".

Since the discovery of 5261 Eureka, the Minor Planet Center has recognized three other asteroids as Martian trojans: 1999 UJ7 at the L4 point, 1998 VF31 at the L5 point,[4] and 2007 NS2, also at the L5 point.[5] At least five other asteroids in near-1:1 resonances with Mars have been discovered, but they do not exhibit trojan behavior. They are 2001 FR127, 2001 FG24, (36017) 1999 ND43, 1998 QH56 and (152704) 1998 SD4.

The infrared spectrum for 5261 Eureka is typical for an A-type asteroid, but the visual spectrum is consistent with an evolved form of achondrite called an angrite. A-class asteroids are tinted red in hue, with a moderate albedo. The asteroid is located deep within a stable Lagrangian zone of Mars, which is considered indicative of a primordial origin—meaning the asteroid has most likely been in this orbit for much of the history of the Solar System.

Contents

  • Satellite 1
  • See also 2
  • References 3
  • External links 4

Satellite

S/2011 (5261) 1
Discovery
Discovery date November 28, 2011
Orbital characteristics
Epoch December 09 2014
2.1 km
0.7054 ± 0.0004 d
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 0.46 km

On November 28, 2011, a natural satellite of 5261 Eureka was found. It has yet to be named, and its provisional designation is S/2011 (5261) 1. The moon is about 0.46 km in diameter and orbits 2.1 km from Eureka. The satellite's existence was announced in September 2014. [6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003), Dictionary of minor planet names, Physics and astronomy online library (5th ed.), Springer, p. 452,  
  2. ^ Yeomans, Donald K., "5261 Eureka (1990 MB)", JPL Small-Body Database Browser (NASA), retrieved 2013-10-22. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Rivkin, Andrew S.; Trilling, David E.; Thomas, Cristina A.; DeMeo, Francesca; Spahr, Timothy B.; Binzel, Richard P. (December 2007), "Composition of the L5 Mars Trojans: Neighbors, not siblings", Icarus 192 (2): 434–441,  
  4. ^ a b "List of Martian Trojans". Retrieved 2011-02-26. 
  5. ^ MPEC 2007-O09 : 2007 NS2
  6. ^ Johnston, Robert (November 16, 2014). "(5261) Eureka". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved September 6, 2015. 
Further reading
  • IAUC 5045
  • IAUC 5047
  • IAUC 5067
  • IAUC 5075
  • A. S. Rivkin, R. P. Binzel, S. J. Bus, and J. A. Grier, "Spectroscopy and Classification of Mars Trojan Asteroids", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 34, 2002, p. 840.
  • S. Tabachnik and N. W. Evans, "Cartography for Martian Trojans", The Astrophysical Journal 517, 1999, pp. L63-L66.

External links

  • The co-orbital asteroids of Mars A simulation and animation showing Mars's co-orbital and near co-orbital asteroids
Minor planets
Asteroids
Distant minor planets
Comets
Meteoroids
Lists / categories
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