(18) Melpomene

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Asteroid
(18) MelpomeneMelpomene astronomical symbol
Properties of the orbit ( animation )
Orbit type Main belt asteroid
Major semi-axis 2.297  AU
eccentricity 0.2177
Perihelion - aphelion 1.797 AU - 2.797 AU
Inclination of the orbit plane 10.13 °
Length of the ascending node 150.4 °
Argument of the periapsis 228.0 °
Time of passage of the perihelion March 19, 2020
Sidereal period 3 a 175 d
Mean orbital velocity 19.4 km / s
Physical Properties
Medium diameter approx. 140 km
Dimensions 150 × 125 km
Dimensions 2.9 x 10 18Template: Infobox asteroid / maintenance / mass kg
Albedo 0.18
Medium density approx. 2 g / cm³
Rotation period 11.57 h
Absolute brightness 6.51 mag
Spectral class
(according to Tholen)
S.
Spectral class
(according to SMASSII)
S.
history
Explorer John R. Hind
Date of discovery June 24, 1852
Source: Unless otherwise stated, the data comes from JPL Small-Body Database Browser . The affiliation to an asteroid family is automatically determined from the AstDyS-2 database . Please also note the note on asteroid items.

(18) Melpomene is an asteroid of the main asteroid belt discovered on June 24, 1852 as the eighteenth asteroid by John Russel Hind .

The celestial body was named after Melpomene , the muse of tragic poetry and funeral song.

Melpomene moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun . The asteroid is 1.8 AU away from the Sun in perihelion and 2.8 AU in aphelion . The orbit is inclined 10.1 ° to the ecliptic , the orbital eccentricity is 0.22.

Melpomene has a diameter of around 140 km. It has a relatively light, silicate-rich surface with an albedo of 0.22. During the opposition , Melpomene reaches a brightness of 10.6  mag .

Observations suggest that Melpomene is accompanied by a smaller asteroid.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. International Astronomical Union Circular No. 3315 , Retrieved June 19, 2010