4257 Ubasti
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4257 Ubasti, provisional designation Template:Mp, is a stony asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group and as Mars-crosser, approximately 1.5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer Jean Mueller at the Palomar Observatory in California on 23 August 1987.[1] The asteroid was named for Bastet – also known as Baast, Ubaste or Ubasti – the Egyptian goddess of cats.[2]
Orbit and classification
Ubasti orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.9–2.4 AU once every 2 years and 1 month (772 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.47 and an inclination of 41° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] Due to its high eccentricity, Ubasti is also a Mars-crossing asteroid. The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation, as no precoveries were taken and no prior identification had been made.[1]
Close approaches
As a near-Earth object, Ubasti has a low Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of Script error: No such module "convert"., which corresponds to 66.8 lunar distances (LD). This distance, however, is too large to make it a potentially hazardous asteroid (0.05 AU; less than 20 LD).[3]
Physical characteristics
Ubasti is an assumed stony S-type asteroid.[4]
Rotation period
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Ubasti has been obtained and its rotation period remains unknown.[4] However, the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Asteroid Photometric Survey has measured the body's brightness variation caused by its rotation, which gave a maximum of 0.36 magnitude. This indicates that the body has a somewhat non-spherical shape.[5]
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite, Ubasti measures 1.30 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.376,[6] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 1.96 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 15.9.[4]
Naming
This minor planet was named after Egyptian goddesses Bastet, who was originally the goddess of warfare, equated with the lioness war goddess, but later transformed into a major protector deity represented as a cat.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 21 November 1991 (M.P.C. 19336Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".).[7] The discoverer dedicated this asteroid to her beloved companion, Pepper Cat (1974–1991).[2]
References
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External links
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Template:Webarchive)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Template:NeoDys
- Template:ESA-SSA
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at the JPL Small-Body DatabaseTemplate:EditAtWikidata
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