279 Thule
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Johann Palisa |
Discovery date | October 25, 1888 |
Designations | |
1927 EC, 1954 FF, A920 GA, A923 RA[1] | |
Asteroid belt (Thule) | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 27 August 2011 (JD 2455800.5) | |
Aphelion | 4.3122281 AU |
Perihelion | 4.2329299 AU |
4.2725790 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.0092799 |
8.8316810 a (3225.7715 d) | |
182.9163° | |
Inclination | 2.33789° |
73.6201° | |
82.8223° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 126.6 ± 3.7 km (IRAS)[1] |
15.96 h[1] | |
Albedo | 0.041[1] |
Temperature | 133 K |
Spectral type
|
B−V=0.75[1] U−B=0.32[1] D (Tholen)[1] X (SMASSII)[1] |
8.57[1] | |
279 Thule (/ˈθjuːliː/ THEW-lee) is a large asteroid from the asteroid belt. It is classified as a D-type asteroid and is probably composed of organic-rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates. Thule was the first asteroid discovered with a semi-major axis greater than 4 AU. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on October 25, 1888 in Vienna and was named aptly after the ultimate northern land of Thule.
Thule asteroids
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Thule was the first discovered member of the Thule dynamical group, which as of 2008 is known to consist of three objects: 279 Thule, (186024) 2001 QG207, and (185290) 2006 UB219.[2] The orbits of these bodies are unusual. They orbit in the outermost edge of the asteroid belt in a 4:3 orbital resonance with Jupiter, the result of the periodic force Jupiter exerts on a body with Thule's orbital period, in the same way (though with the reverse effect) as the Kirkwood gaps in the more inner parts of the asteroid belt.
References
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
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