896 Sphinx

896 Sphinx
Modelled shape of Sphinx from its lightcurve
Discovery [1]
Discovered byM. F. Wolf
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date1 August 1918
Designations
(896) Sphinx
Pronunciation/ˈsfɪŋks/
Named after
A918 PE · 1918 DV
AdjectivesSphinxian /ˈsfɪŋksiən/[6]
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc101.50 yr (37,074 d)
Aphelion2.6588 AU
Perihelion1.9128 AU
2.2858 AU
Eccentricity0.1632
3.46 yr (1,262 d)
211.73°
0° 17m 6.72s / day
Inclination8.1903°
254.18°
1.9628°
Physical characteristics
  • 11.974±0.071 km[7]
  • 13.07±0.5 km[8]
  • 14.45±0.35 km[9]
21.038±0.008 h[10]
  • (172.0°, 20.0°) (λ1/β1)[5]
  • (352.0°, 42.0°) (λ2/β2)[5]
  • 0.163±0.009[9]
  • 0.1971±0.017[8]
  • 0.242±0.045[7]
n.a.
11.6[1][3]

896 Sphinx /ˈsfɪŋks/ is a background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, that measures approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 1 August 1918, by astronomer Max Wolf at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany.[1] The asteroid has a rotation period of 21.0 hours and is one of few low-numbered objects for which no spectral type has been determined. It was named after the Sphinx, a creature from Greek and Egyptian mythology.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference MPC-object was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference springer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference AstDys-object was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Ferret was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Sphinx". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Masiero-2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMPS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference AKARI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Polakis-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).