3554 Amun

Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical_characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0
name=3554 Amun
discoverer=Carolyn and
Eugene Shoemaker
discovered=March 4, 1986
alt_names=1986 EB
mp_category=Aten asteroid,
Venus-crosser asteroid
epoch=July 14, 2004 (JD 2453200.5)
semimajor=145.669 Gm (0.974 AU)
perihelion=104.807 Gm (0.701 AU)
aphelion=186.532 Gm (1.247 AU)
eccentricity=0.281
period=350.964 d (0.96 a)
inclination=23.363°
asc_node=358.680°
arg_peri=359.368°
mean_anomaly=196.415°
avg_speed=29.58 km/s
dimensions=2.5 ? km
mass=~1.6×10¹³ kg
density=2 ? g/cm³
surface_grav=? m/s²
escape_velocity=? km/s
rotation=0.1054 d [http://www.astrosurf.com/aude-old/map_files/AstVarMAP01-2003.htm 1]
spectral_type=M-type asteroid
abs_magnitude=15.82
albedo=? [http://www.psi.edu/pds/archive/astdata04/simps04/diamalb.tab 2]
single_temperature=~280 K

3554 Amun is an M-type Aten asteroid (meaning it crosses Earth's orbit) and a Venus-crosser. It was discovered on 4 March, 1986 by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at Mount Palomar Observatory. Its estimated diameter is 2.5 kilometers, making it one of the smallest known M-type asteroids.

Amun was once considered metallic, based on its M-type spectrum. However, like the asteroids 22 Kalliope and 21 Lutetia, the radar albedo of the object is inconsistent with a metallic composition. In , planetary scientist John S. Lewis calculated the value of 3554 Amun at $20 trillion dollars [http://www.nss.org/resources/books/non_fiction/NF_011_miningthesky.html] .

(6178) 1986 DA is another M-type near-Earth asteroid with lower inclination that is actually metallic.

External links

* [http://www.matter-antimatter.com/asteroid_3554_amun.htm Economic value of asteroid 3554 Amun]

*JPL Small Body