(149) Medusa

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asteroid
(149) Medusa
Properties of the orbit ( animation )
Epoch:  May 23, 2014 ( JD 2,456,800.5)
Orbit type Inner main belt
Major semi-axis 2.175  AU
eccentricity 0.065
Perihelion - aphelion 2.034 AU - 2.316 AU
Inclination of the orbit plane 0.9 °
Length of the ascending node 159.6 °
Argument of the periapsis 251 °
Time of passage of the perihelion November 14, 2010
Sidereal period 3 a 75 d
Mean orbital velocity 20.20 km / s
Physical Properties
Medium diameter 19.75 km
Albedo 0.2334
Rotation period 26 h 0 min
Absolute brightness 10.79 likes
Spectral class S.
history
Explorer J. Perrotin
Date of discovery September 21, 1875
Another name A905 BA, A906 HB
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.

(149) Medusa is an asteroid of the main asteroid belt discovered by Henri Joseph Perrotin on September 21, 1875 . The celestial body was named after Medusa , one of the gorgons from Greek mythology , the sight of which made everyone turn to stone.

Medusa moves from 2.034 ( perihelion ) astronomical units to 2.316 astronomical units ( aphelion ) around the sun in 3.21 years . The orbit is inclined 0.938 ° to the ecliptic , the orbit eccentricity is 0.065.

Medusa has a mean diameter of around 20 km. It has a light, silicate-rich surface with an albedo of 0.23. It rotates on its own axis in 26 hours.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Lutz D. Schmadel : Dictionary of Minor Planet Names . Springer, Heidelberg 2012, 6th edition, page 26 (English)