2121 Sevastopol Explained

Minorplanet:yes
2121 Sevastopol
Background:
  1. D6D6D6
Discovery Ref: 
Discovered:27 June 1971
Mpc Name:(2121) Sevastopol
Alt Names:1971 ME1932 HM
1936 WD1938 DY
1939 TO1952 SZ

1978 WG
Mp Category:main-beltFlora 
Orbit Ref: 
Epoch:4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty:0
Observation Arc:79.82 yr (29,154 days)
Perihelion:1.7945 AU
Semimajor:2.1838 AU
Eccentricity:0.1783
Period:3.23 yr (1,179 days)
Mean Motion: / day
Inclination:4.3780°
Asc Node:145.72°
Arg Peri:160.38°
Satellites:1
Dimensions: km
12.48 km
Albedo:0.24
Spectral Type:S 
Abs Magnitude:12.2
S/2010 (2121) 1
Discoverer:D. Higgins, P. Pravec, P. Kusnirak, J. Pollock, J. Oey, M. Husarik, G. Cervak, D. E. Reichart, K. M. Ivarsen, J. B. Haislip, and A. LaCluyze
Discovered:2010/07/23
Discovery Method:Light curve
Semimajor:26 km
Period:1.546 d
13 hours, 6 minutes
Angular Dist:46 mas (maximum)
Satellite Of:2121 Sevastopol
Volume:20.0-26.7 km3 (assumed)
Dimensions:3.54 ± 0.17 km
Magnitude:1.9 ± 0.1 fainter than primary
Abs Magnitude:~16.1

2121 Sevastopol, provisional designation, is a stony Florian asteroid and synchronous binary system from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 June 1971, by Russian astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean peninsula. Its minor-planet moon was discovered in 2010.

Orbit and characterization

Sevastopol is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,179 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.

Satellite

In 2010, a minor-planet moon, designated, was discovered around Sevastopol, orbiting at a distance of 26 kilometers with a diameter of 3.54 ± 0.17 km.

Naming

The asteroid was named after the Crimean city on the 200th anniversary of its foundation. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 January 1983 .

External links