1009 Sirene

Sirene (minor planet designation: 1009 Sirene), provisional designation 1923 PE, is an eccentric asteroid and sizable Mars-crosser from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory on 31 October 1923.[3] The asteroid was named after the Siren from Greek mythology.[2]

1009 Sirene
Discovery [1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date31 October 1923
Designations
(1009) Sirene
PronunciationGerman: [ˈziːʁeːnə]
Named after
Siren (Σειρήν - Sīrēn) (Greek mythology)[2]
1923 PE
Mars-crosser [1][3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc92.69 yr (33,854 days)
Aphelion3.8207 AU
Perihelion1.4259 AU
2.6233 AU
Eccentricity0.4564
4.25 yr (1,552 days)
11.512°
0° 13m 55.2s / day
Inclination15.775°
229.46°
186.35°
Earth MOID0.4384 AU · 170.8 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions5 km (est. at 0.20[4]
13.9[1]

    Orbit and classification

    Sirene is a Mars-crossing asteroid with a notably large semi-major axis is 2.62 AU, due to its high eccentricity of 0.46.[1] It orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 1.4–3.8 AU once every 4 years and 3 months (1,552 days). Its orbit has an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    The body's observation arc begins 9 days after its official discovery observation at Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg.[3] On 8 June 1949, Sirene passed 0.049 AU (7,300,000 km; 4,600,000 mi) from Mars.

    Aethra group and mass of Mars

    Sirene had been of great interest in 1930s.[5] After its discovery, it was observed at Algiers, Bergedorf, Heidelberg, Milan, Vienna and Wiliams Bay in the United States, where it became too faint to be accurately observed. It was regarded as an excellent example of a member of the then called "Aethra group" – 132 Aethra was the first discovered Mars-crossing asteroid – highly appropriate to measure the exact mass of Mars on its next opposition near perihelion in 1937.[5] However, after its last observation at Wiliams Bay in 1924, Sirene had only been observed once at Turku Observatory in 1940, and remained unobserved until the 1980s.[3]

    Physical characteristics

    Rotation period

    As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Sirene has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, shape and poles remain unknown.[1][6]

    Diameter and albedo

    Sirene has not been observed by any large-scale, space-based surveys such as IRAS, NEOWISE and Akari.[1][6] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, Sirene measures 5 kilometers in diameter for an absolute magnitude of 13.9 and an assumed stony albedo of 0.20.[4] For an assumed albedo of 0.10 and 0.05, its calculated diameter would increase to 7.1 and 10 kilometers, respectively.[4]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named from Greek mythology after the Siren, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 96).[2]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1009 Sirene (1923 PE)" (2016-07-08 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1009) Sirene". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1009) Sirene. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 87. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1010. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "1009 Sirene (1923 PE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    4. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    5. Meister, H. J. (November 1935). "Definitive Bahn für 1009 Sirene". Astronomische Nachrichten. 257 (15): 233. Bibcode:1935AN....257..233M. doi:10.1002/asna.19352571502.
    6. "LCDB Data for (1009) Sirene". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 September 2017.

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