2001 Einstein

2001 Einstein
Discovery [1]
Discovered by P. Wild
Discovery site Zimmerwald Obs.
Discovery date 5 March 1973
Designations
MPC designation 2001 Einstein
Named after
 Albert Einstein
(physicist)[2]
1973 EB
main-belt (inner) · Hungaria [3][4]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 43.03 yr (15,717 days)         
Aphelion 2.1246 AU
Perihelion 1.7425 AU
1.9335 AU
Eccentricity 0.0988
2.69 yr (982 days)
290.65°
0° 21m 59.4s / day
Inclination 22.683°
357.08°
217.73°
Earth MOID 0.7666 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 3.975±0.154 km[5]
5.66 km (calculated)[3]
5.487±0.001 h[6]
5.4846±0.0003 h[7]
5.485±0.002 h[8]
5.4846±0.0004 h[9]
5.4846±0.0001 h[10]
5.48503±0.00005 h (S)[11]
0.8097±0.1692[5]
0.40 (assumed)[3]
B–V = 0.720[1]
U–B = 0.261[1]
X (Tholen), Xe (SMASS)[1]
X [3] · E [5]
12.85[1][3][5]

    2001 Einstein, provisional designation 1973 EB, is a bright Hungaria asteroid from the innermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Swiss astronomer Paul Wild at Zimmerwald Observatory near Bern, Switzerland, on 5 March 1973.[12]

    The X-type asteroid, classified as a Xe-subtype on the SMASS taxonomic scheme, is a member of the Hungaria family, which form the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.7–2.1 AU once every 2 years and 8 months (982 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 23° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), the asteroid measures 4.0 km in diameter and its surface has an exceptionally high albedo of 0.81, for which WISE assigns an E-type.[5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) assumes a lower, yet still very high albedo of 0.40 and hence calculates a larger diameter of 5.7 kilometers, as the lower the albedo, the larger the body's diameter for a constant absolute magnitude.[3]

    A photometric measurement of the asteroid made in 2004 by American astronomer Brian Warner at the U.S Palmer Divide Observatory (PDS) in Colorado, showed a light-curve with a period of 5.487±0.001 hours and a brightness variation of 0.66±0.03 in magnitude (U=3).[6] Between 2008 and 2012, 3 additional light-curves at the PDS gave an almost identical period of 5.485 hours with an magnitude amplitude from 0.67 to 1.02 (U=3).[7][8][9] Other light-curve analysis include an observation by Hanuš at the French CNES and other institutions, as well as an observations by Italian astronomer Federico Manzini at SAS observatory in Novara, which rendered a period of 5.48503±0.00005 and 5.4846±0.0001 hours, respectively (U=n.c./2+).[10][11]

    The minor planet was named in honour of the German-born, Swiss–American physicist and Nobelist Albert Einstein (1879–1955). It is considered suitable, that the body discovered at Bern is named after the 1921 Nobel prize for physics laureate, since it was the place where he had his golden years while working as a clerk at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern. He is also honored by the lunar crater Einstein.[2] Arthur C. Clarke joked in the postscript of his novel 3001: The Final Odyssey that he was hoping asteroid 2001 would be named after him, but it was named for Einstein first. Asteroid 3001 was named 3001 Michelangelo. Clarke was later honoured with asteroid 4923 Clarke, named together with 5020 Asimov.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2001 Einstein (1973 EB)" (2016-03-16 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved April 2016.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2001) Einstein. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 162. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved April 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "LCDB Data for (2001) Einstein". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved April 2016.
    4. ↑ Spratt, Christopher E. (April 1990). "The Hungaria group of minor planets". Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 84 (2): 123–131. Bibcode:1990JRASC..84..123S. ISSN 0035-872X. Retrieved April 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90. Retrieved April 2016.
    6. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (September 2005). "Asteroid lightcurve analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory - winter 2004-2005". The Minor Planet Bulletin 32 (3): 54–58. Bibcode:2005MPBu...32...54W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved April 2016.
    7. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (October 2008). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory: February-May 2008". The Minor Planet Bulletin 35 (4): 163–166. Bibcode:2008MPBu...35..163W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved April 2016.
    8. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (April 2010). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory: 2009 September-December". The Minor Planet Bulletin 37 (2): 57–64. Bibcode:2010MPBu...37...57W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved April 2016.
    9. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (April 2013). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory: 2012 September - 2013 January". The Minor Planet Bulletin 40 (2): 71–80. Bibcode:2013MPBu...40...71W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved April 2016.
    10. 1 2 Behrend, Raoul. "Asteroids and comets rotation curves – (2001) Einstein". Geneva Observatory. Retrieved April 2016.
    11. 1 2 Hanus, J.; Durech, J.; Oszkiewicz, D. A.; Behrend, R.; Carry, B.; Delbo, M.; et al. (February 2016). "New and updated convex shape models of asteroids based on optical data from a large collaboration network". Astronomy and Astrophysics 586: 24. arXiv:1510.07422. Bibcode:2016A&A...586A.108H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201527441. Retrieved April 2016.
    12. ↑ "2001 Einstein (1973 EB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved April 2016.

    External links

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