3915 Fukushima

3915 Fukushima
Discovery [1]
Discovered by M. Yanai
K. Watanabe
Discovery site Kitami Observatory
Discovery date 15 August 1988
Designations
MPC designation 3915 Fukushima
Named after
 Hisao Fukushima
(amateur astronomer)[2]
1988 PA1 · 1926 GQ
1935 UL · 1935 UX
1950 QT · 1975 EX5
1977 TV7 · 1977 TW3
1979 FH1 · 1983 EM
main-belt · (inner) [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 65.23 yr (23,826 days)    
Aphelion 2.5395 AU
Perihelion 2.3374 AU
2.4384 AU
Eccentricity 0.0414
3.81 yr (1,391 days)
82.782°
Inclination 14.433°
173.50°
144.02°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 20.38±1.6 km (IRAS:9)[4]
22.82±0.38 km[5]
22.354±0.031 km[6]
9.418±0.001 h[7]
8.40±0.01 h[8]
9.41±0.01 h[9]
9.4177±0.0004 h[10]
0.0561±0.010 (IRAS:9)[4]
0.046±0.002[5]
0.0441±0.0015[6]
C [3]
12.2[1][3][5][6]

    3915 Fukushima, provisional designation 1988 PA1, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, about 21 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 15 August 1988, by Japanese astronomers Masayuki Yanai and Kazuro Watanabe at the Kitami Observatory in eastern Hokkaido, Japan.[11]

    The C-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.3–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,391 days). Its prograde orbit[12] shows an eccentricity of 0.04 and an inclination of 14 degrees from the plane of the ecliptic.[1] On 16 December 2012, the asteroid occulted the star HIP 4315 over parts of Europe and North America. At the time the body's brightness was 16.3 in magnitude (mag) and that of the star was 8.5 mag.[13]

    Several high-quality photometric light-curve analysis of the asteroid were performed since 2003. An observation by Brian Warner at the U.S. Palmer Divide Observatory (PDS) in Colorado rendered a rotation period of 9.418±0.001 hours with a high brightness amplitude of 0.67 in magnitude (U=3), indicating that the body has a non-spherical shape.[7] This observation concurs with another measurement taken at the Oakley Observatory that rendered a period of 9.41±0.01 and an amplitude of 0.50 mag (U=3),[9] superseding a less accurate light-curve produced by the PDS of 8.40 hours (U=2).[8] In 2011, an observation by René Roy gave another concurring period of 9.4177±0.0004 hours and an amplitude of 0.79 mag (U=3).[10]

    According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the asteroid has a low albedo in the range of 0.044 and 0.056 with a diameter between 20.3 and 22.8 kilometers.[4][5][6]

    The minor planet was named in honor of Japanese researcher and amateur astronomer, Hisao Fukushima (1910–1997), known for his research in hydrodynamics. He was professor emeritus at Hokkaido University, and, as an active amateur astronomer, an representative of the Hokkaido Astronomical Liaison Group. His works on astronomical history are a great source of inspiration to younger amateur astronomers.[2]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 3915 Fukushima (1988 PA1)" (2015-11-14 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved February 2016.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3915) Fukushima. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 333. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved February 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 "LCDB Data for (3915) Fukushima". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved February 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved February 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 4 Usui, Fumihiko; Kuroda, Daisuke; Müller, Thomas G.; Hasegawa, Sunao; Ishiguro, Masateru; Ootsubo, Takafumi; et al. (October 2011). "Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan 63 (5): 1117–1138. Bibcode:2011PASJ...63.1117U. doi:10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117. Retrieved February 2016.
    6. 1 2 3 4 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 February 2016.
    7. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (April 2011). "Upon Further Review: VI. An Examination of Previous Lightcurve Analysis from the Palmer Divide Observatory". The Minor Planet Bulletin 38 (2): 96–101. Bibcode:2011MPBu...38...96W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved February 2016.
    8. 1 2 Warner, Brian D. (March 2004). "Rotation rates for asteroids 875, 926, 1679, 1796, 3915, 4209, and 34817". The Minor Planet Bulletin 31 (1): 19–22. Bibcode:2004MPBu...31...19W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved February 2016.
    9. 1 2 Shipley, Heath; Dillard, Alex; Kendall, Jordan; Reichert, Matthew; Sauppe, Jason; Shaffer, Nelson; et al. (September 2008). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Oakley Observatory - September 2007". The Minor Planet Bulletin 35 (3): 99–102. Bibcode:2008MPBu...35...99S. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved February 2016.
    10. 1 2 Behrend, Raoul. "Asteroids and comets rotation curves – (3915) Fukushima". Geneva Observatory. Retrieved February 2016.
    11. ↑ "3915 Fukushima (1988 PA1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved February 2016.
    12. ↑ 3915 FUKUSHIMA
    13. ↑ Asteroid Occultation Updates

    External links


    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, May 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.