3202 Graff

3202 Graff, provisional designation A908 AA, is a carbonaceous Hilda asteroid from the outermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 36 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 January 1908, by German astronomer Max Wolf at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.[7] The asteroid was named after astronomer Gareth V. Williams.[2]

3202 Graff
Discovery [1]
Discovered byM. F. Wolf
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date3 January 1908
Designations
(3202) Graff
Named after
Gareth V. Williams
(astronomer)[2]
A908 AA · 1981 ES13
main-belt[1] · Hilda [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc109.02 yr (39,819 days)
Aphelion4.3883 AU
Perihelion3.4843 AU
3.9363 AU
Eccentricity0.1148
7.81 yr (2,853 days)
295.10°
0° 7m 34.32s / day
Inclination11.107°
205.14°
268.81°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions35.914±0.244[4]
36.78 km (calculated)[3]
17.32±0.02 h[5]
0.055±0.013[4]
0.057 (assumed)[3]
D [6] · C [3]
10.9[1][3] · 11.31±0.28[6]

    Orbit and classification

    Graff belongs to the Hilda family of asteroids, which are in a 3:2 orbital resonance with the giant planet Jupiter. It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 3.5–4.4 AU once every 7 years and 10 months (2,853 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The asteroid's observation arc begins 3 weeks after its discovery with its first used observation at Heidelberg.[7]

    Physical characteristics

    The dark C-type asteroid is classified as a rare D-type by Pan-STARRS' large-scale survey,[6]

    In July 2015, a rotational lightcurve of Graff was obtained by astronomer Robert Stephens at the Center for Solar System Studies. It gave a well-defined rotation period of 17.32±0.02 hours with a brightness variation of 0.18 in magnitude (U=3-).[5]

    According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Graff measures 35.9 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.055.[4] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and calculates a diameter of 36.8 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 10.9.[3]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after English-born astronomer Gareth "Graff" Vaughan Williams (born 1965), who identified various low-numbered asteroids among bodies that had been given provisional designations. His work at the Minor Planet Center (MPC) has received much recognition.[2]

    The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 10 April 1990 (M.P.C. 16245),[8] based on a suggestion by long-time MPC director Brian G. Marsden (1937–2000) and by Conrad M. Bardwell (1926–2010), associate director of the MPC and who made the identification for this body.[2] The minor planets 1615 Bardwell and 1877 Marsden were named in honor of these two prominent astronomers at the MPC.

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 3202 Graff (A908 AA)" (2017-01-09 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3202) Graff". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 266. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3203. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "LCDB Data for (3202) Graff". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 10 July 2016.
    4. 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 5 December 2016.
    5. Stephens, Robert D. (January 2016). "Asteroids Observed from CS3: 2015 July - September". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 43 (1): 52–56. Bibcode:2016MPBu...43...52S. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
    6. Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. S2CID 53493339. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
    7. "3202 Graff (A908 AA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

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