201 Penelope

Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical_characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0 | name=201 Penelope
discoverer=Johann Palisa
discovered=August 7, 1879
alt_names=A869 GA
mp_category=Main belt
epoch=30 January, 2005 (JD 2453400.5)
semimajor=401.133 Gm (2.681 AU)
perihelion=329.047 Gm (2.2 AU)
aphelion=473.219 Gm (3.163 AU)
eccentricity=0.18
period=1603.743 d (4.39 a)
inclination=5.761°
asc_node=157.17°
arg_peri=180.769°
mean_anomaly=215.135°
avg_speed=18.19 km/s
dimensions=68.0 km
mass="unknown"
density="unknown"
surface_grav="unknown"
escape_velocity="unknown"
rotation=3.74 h
spectral_type=M
abs_magnitude=8.43
albedo=0.160
single_temperature="unknown"

201 Penelope is a large Main belt asteroid. It is classified as a M-type asteroid.

It was discovered by Johann Palisa on August 7, 1879 in Pola. It was his 17th discovery.

The asteroid is named after Penelope, the wife of Odysseus in Homer's "The Odyssey".

References

* [ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/elgb/astorb.html The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database]
* [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/NumberedMPs.html Minor Planet Discovery Circumstances]
* [http://www.psi.edu/pds/archive/lc.html Asteroid Lightcurve Parameters]
* [http://www.psi.edu/pds/archive/albedo.html Asteroid Albedo Compilation]