209 Dido

209 Dido
Discovery
Discovered byC. H. F. Peters
Discovery date22 October 1879
Designations
(209) Dido
Pronunciation/ˈdaɪdoʊ/[1]
Named after
Dido
A879 UC, 1909 AB
1909 GB, 1912 RB
Main belt
AdjectivesDidonian /daɪˈdoʊniən/[2][3]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc136.47 yr (49,845 d)
Aphelion3.331 AU (498.3 Gm)
Perihelion2.968 AU (444.1 Gm)
3.150 AU (471.2 Gm)
Eccentricity0.057565
5.59 yr (2,040.5 d)
16.79 km/s
311.722°
0° 10m 34.738s / day
Inclination7.16997°
0.682681°
248.387°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions179±1 km[4]
140.35±10.12 km[5]
Mass(4.59±7.42)×1018 kg[5]
5.737 h (0.24 d)[4][6]
0.028±0.004
C
8.24
3D convex shape model of Dido

209 Dido is a main-belt asteroid with a diameter of 179±1 km.[4] It was discovered by C. H. F. Peters on October 22, 1879, in Clinton, New York and was named after the mythical Carthaginian queen Dido. This asteroid is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 3.15 AU with an eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.058 and a period of 5.59 yr. The orbital plane is tilted at an angle of 7.2° to the plane of the ecliptic.[4]

209 Dido is classified as a C-type asteroid and is probably composed of carbonaceous materials. Like many asteroids of its type, it has an extremely low albedo. Photometric observations at the Palmer Divide Observatory during 2005 showed a rotation period of 5.7366±0.0005 hours with a brightness variation of 0.17±0.02 in magnitude.[6] The pole orientation in ecliptic coordinates, as determined from multiple light curve studies, is (βp, λp) = (120°±6°, 66°±7°).[7]

209 Dido has been observed to occult 4 stars between 2005 and 2023.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Webster1884 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference OED was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shoaf1983 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Carry2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mpb37_1_21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zhang_et_al_2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).