- 51 Nemausa
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51 Nemausa DiscoveryDiscovered by A. Laurent Discovery date January 22, 1858 DesignationsNamed after Nîmes Alternate name(s) Minor planet
categoryMain belt Epoch December 31, 2006 (JD 2454100.5) Aphelion 2.523 AU (377.381 Gm) Perihelion 2.208 AU (330.360 Gm) Semi-major axis 2.365 AU (353.871 Gm) Eccentricity 0.066 Orbital period 3.64 a (1328.853 d) Average orbital speed 19.34 km/s Mean anomaly 316.668° Inclination 9.972° Longitude of ascending node 176.168° Argument of perihelion 2.820° Physical characteristicsDimensions 147.9 km[1]
(170 x 136)[2]Mass 3.4×1018 kg Equatorial surface gravity 0.0413 m/s² Escape velocity 0.0782 km/s Albedo 0.093[3] Temperature ~181 K Spectral type G Absolute magnitude (H) 7.35 51 Nemausa ( /nɨˈmɔːzə/) is a large asteroid-belt asteroid similar to 1 Ceres in composition. It was discovered by one "A. Laurent", an obscure figure about whom little is known. Laurent made the discovery from the private observatory of Benjamin Valz in Nîmes, France. The house, at 32 rue Nationale in Nîmes, has a plaque commemorating the discovery. With Laurent's permission, Valz named the asteroid after the Celtic god Nemausus, the patron god of Nîmes during Roman times.[4]
Nemausa measures 147.9km in diameter. Lightcurve data suggests that it may have a small moon.[5] It may have a water content of about 14%.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 51 Nemausa". 2008-05-09 last obs. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=51. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ "Diameters". Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AsAtest/SecG/Diameters.txt. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ Asteroid Data Sets
- ^ Lutz D. Schmadel, Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, p.20.
- ^ Other reports of asteroid/TNO companions
- ^ A. S. Rivkin (2002). "CALCULATED WATER CONCENTRATIONS ON C CLASS ASTEROIDS" (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Institute. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2002/pdf/1414.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
Minor planets navigator Small Solar System bodies Minor planets - Designation
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Comets Meteoroids Lists / categories - Asteroid groups and families
- Asteroid moons
- Binary asteroids
- Minor planets
Categories:- Main Belt asteroids
- G-type asteroids
- Asteroids named for places
- Astronomical objects discovered in 1858
- Main Belt asteroid stubs
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