238 Hypatia

Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical_characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0 | name=238 Hypatia
discoverer=Viktor Knorre
discovered=July 1, 1884
alt_names=1947 HA
mp_category=Main belt
epoch=30 January, 2005 (JD 2453400.5)
semimajor=434.763 Gm (2.906 AU)
perihelion=396.128 Gm (2.648 AU)
aphelion=473.399 Gm (3.164 AU)
eccentricity=0.089
period=1809.596 d (4.95 a)
inclination=12.408°
asc_node=184.2°
arg_peri=206.935°
mean_anomaly=59.101°
avg_speed=17.47 km/s
dimensions=149.0 km
mass="unknown"
density="unknown"
surface_grav="unknown"
escape_velocity="unknown"
rotation=8.86 h
spectral_type=C
abs_magnitude=8.18
albedo=0.042
single_temperature="unknown"

238 Hypatia is a very large Main belt asteroid. It is classified as a C-type asteroid and is probably composed of primitive carbonaceous material. Like many asteroids of this type, its surface is very dark in colour.

It was discovered by Viktor Knorre on July 1, 1884 in Berlin. It was third of his total of four asteroid discoveries.

The name was given in honour of philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria.

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://spiff.rit.edu/richmond/parallax/phot/LCSUMPUB.TXT Asteroid Lightcurve Data File]