6267 Rozhen

6267 Rozhen
Discovery [1]
Discovered by E. W. Elst
Discovery site Rozhen Obs.
Discovery date 20 September 1987
Designations
MPC designation 6267 Rozhen
Named after
 Rozhen Observatory
(discovering observatory)[2]
1987 SO9 · 1971 SP
1979 BR2
main-belt · Flora [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 64.53 yr (23,570 days)  
Aphelion 2.3586 AU
Perihelion 1.9656 AU
2.1621 AU
Eccentricity 0.0908
3.18 yr (1,161 days)
184.55°
Inclination 2.1033°
136.74°
315.51°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 3.02 km (calculated)[3]
3.9847±0.0007 h[4]
3.980±0.020 h[5]
0.24 (assumed)[3]
S [3]
14.3[1]

    6267 Rozhen, provisional designation 1987 SO9, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, about 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at Rozhen Observatory near Smoljan, Bulgaria, on 20 September 1987.[6] For four days, between 27 and 31 January 2005, it was briefly and erroneously renamed 6267 Smolyan.[7]

    The S-type asteroid is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–2.4 AU once every 3 years and 2 months (1,161 days). Its orbit shows an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 2 degrees from the plane of the ecliptic.[1]

    In 2014, two photometric light-curve analysis at the U.S. Palomar Transient Factory, California, rendered a rotation period of 3.9847±0.0007 and 3.980±0.020 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.14 and 0.12 in magnitude (U=2), respectively,[4][5] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.24, a typical value for asteroids with a stony surface composition, and identical to the albedo of the Flora family's namesake, the asteroid 8 Flora.[3]

    The minor planet was named after the discovering Rozhen Observatory, also known as the Bulgarian National Astronomical Observatory, that has been established at Rozhen in 1981. It is located not far from the city of Smoljan, close to the Greek border. At 1700 m altitude, the observatory profits from excellent instrumental and observational possibilities. In 1986 intensive searches for new minor planets were initiated there.[2]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6267 Rozhen (1987 SO9)" (2014-06-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved January 2016.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (6267) Rozhen. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 522. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved January 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "LCDB Data for (6267) Rozhen". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved January 2016.
    4. 1 2 Waszczak, Adam; Chang, Chan-Kao; Ofek, Eran O.; Laher, Russ; Masci, Frank; Levitan, David; et al. (September 2015). "Asteroid Light Curves from the Palomar Transient Factory Survey: Rotation Periods and Phase Functions from Sparse Photometry". The Astronomical Journal 150 (3): 35. arXiv:1504.04041. Bibcode:2015AJ....150...75W. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/150/3/75. Retrieved January 2016.
    5. 1 2 Chang, Chan-Kao; Ip, Wing-Huen; Lin, Hsing-Wen; Cheng, Yu-Chi; Ngeow, Chow-Choong; Yang, Ting-Chang; et al. (August 2015). "Asteroid Spin-rate Study Using the Intermediate Palomar Transient Factory". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 219 (2): 19. arXiv:1506.08493. Bibcode:2015ApJS..219...27C. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/219/2/27. Retrieved January 2016.
    6. ↑ "6267 Rozhen (1987 SO9)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved January 2016.
    7. ↑ "Major News about Minor Planets". hohmanntransfer.com. 28 February 2005. Retrieved January 2016.

    External links


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