1887 Virton

1887 Virton, provisional designation 1950 TD, is a stony Eoan asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 21 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Belgian astronomer Sylvain Arend at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Uccle on 5 October 1950, and named after the Belgian town of Virton.[2][7]

1887 Virton
Discovery[1]
Discovered byS. Arend
Discovery siteUccle Obs.
Discovery date5 October 1950
Designations
(1887) Virton
Named after
Virton (Belgian town)[2]
1950 TD · 1934 RG
1944 OE · 1950 RG
1950 TQ1 · 1952 BF1
1960 QC · 1970 OA
main-belt · Eos[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc66.44 yr (24,266 days)
Aphelion3.3481 AU
Perihelion2.6606 AU
3.0043 AU
Eccentricity0.1144
5.21 yr (1,902 days)
295.94°
0° 11m 21.48s / day
Inclination9.6221°
348.58°
32.733°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions20.848±0.260[4]
21.40 km (calculated)[3]
22.174±0.605 km[5]
23.43±0.54 km[6]
0.105±0.005[6]
0.1085±0.0158[5]
0.124±0.015[4]
0.14 (assumed)[3]
S[3]
11.1[1][3] · 11.3[5][6]

    Orbit and classification

    Virton is a member of the Eos family. It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 3 months (1,902 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Uccle, as previous observations at Johannesburg, Crimea-Simeis and Turku Observatory remained unused.[7]

    Physical characteristics

    The asteroid has been characterized as a common stony S-type asteroid.[3]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Virton measures between 20.8 and 23.43 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.105 and 0.124, respectively.[4][5][6] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.14 and calculates a diameter of 21.4 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 11.1.[3]

    Lightcurves

    As of 2017, Virton's rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][3]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after the town and capital district, Virton, in the southernmost part Belgium. It is located very close to Robelmont, Arend's birthplace (also see 1145 Robelmonte).[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 September 1983 (M.P.C. 8151).[8]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1887 Virton (1950 TD)" (2017-03-13 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1887) Virton". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1887) Virton. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 151. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1888. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (1887) Virton". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 11 December 2016.
    4. Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121.
    5. Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90.
    6. Usui, Fumihiko; Kuroda, Daisuke; Müller, Thomas G.; Hasegawa, Sunao; Ishiguro, Masateru; Ootsubo, Takafumi; et al. (October 2011). "Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 63 (5): 1117–1138. Bibcode:2011PASJ...63.1117U. doi:10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
    7. "1887 Virton (1950 TD)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 11 December 2016.

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