152 Atala

152 Atala
A three-dimensional model of 152 Atala based on its light curve.
Discovery[1]
Discovered byP. P. Henry
Discovery date2 November 1875
Designations
(152) Atala
Pronunciation/əˈtɑːlə/
French: [atala]
Named after
Atala
A875 VB
Main belt
Orbital characteristics[2][3]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc130.69 yr (47735 d)
Aphelion3.3855 AU (506.46 Gm)
Perihelion2.8984 AU (433.59 Gm)
3.1420 AU (470.04 Gm)
Eccentricity0.077507
5.57 yr (2034.2 d)
52.593°
0° 10m 37.092s / day
Inclination12.114°
39.945°
59.807°
Earth MOID1.93567 AU (289.572 Gm)
Jupiter MOID1.85235 AU (277.108 Gm)
TJupiter3.171
Physical characteristics
Dimensions65 ± 8 km[4]
71–122 km[5]
Mass(5.43 ± 1.24) × 1018 kg[6]
6.246 h (0.2603 d)
5.28-6.25 hours
0.054
D[7]
8.33

152 Atala is a large main belt asteroid that was discovered by brothers Paul Henry and Prosper Henry on 2 November 1875, but the discovery was credited to Paul. It is a type D asteroid, meaning that it is composed of carbon, organic rich silicates and possibly water ice.

The asteroid is named for the eponymous heroine of the 1801 novella Atala by François-René de Chateaubriand.[8] The Henry brothers also named the last of their discoveries, 186 Celuta, after another Chateaubriand heroine.[9] Both Atala and Céluta are American Indian fictional characters.[10]

An occultation of a star by Atala was observed from Japan on 11 March 1994. Subsequent occultations have been observed as recently as 2006.[citation needed]

Photometric of this asteroid made in 1981 gave a light curve with a period of 5.282 ± 0.004 hours with a brightness variation of 0.50 in magnitude.[11]

  1. ^ Hardard's Numbered MPs
  2. ^ "The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database". astorb. Lowell Observatory.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference JPL was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ďurech, Josef; Kaasalainen, Mikko; Herald, David; Dunham, David; Timerson, Brad; Hanuš, Josef; et al. (2011). "Combining asteroid models derived by lightcurve inversion with asteroidal occultation silhouettes" (PDF). Icarus. 214 (2): 652–670. arXiv:1104.4227. Bibcode:2011Icar..214..652D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.03.016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  5. ^ Asterodoccultation.com Archived 2006-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Carry2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ SPIFF LCSUMPUB
  8. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D.; International Astronomical Union (2003). Dictionary of minor planet names. Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 29. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  9. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D.; International Astronomical Union (2012). Dictionary of minor planet names (6th ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 29. ISBN 9783642297182. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  10. ^ Chateaubriand, François-René (1801). Atala.; Chateaubriand, François-René (1802). René.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schober1983 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).