4776 Luyi

4776 Luyi, provisional designation 1975 VD, is a bright background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 3 November 1975, by Harvard astronomers at the Oak Ridge Observatory in Massachusetts, United States. The asteroid was named for the Chinese town of Luyi, birthplace of Laozi who founded Taoism.[1] Luyi is also named after the son of Harvard astronomer Cheng-yuan Shao.[1]

4776 Luyi
Discovery [1]
Discovered byHarvard University
Discovery siteOak Ridge Obs.
Discovery date3 November 1975
Designations
(4776) Luyi
Named after
Luyi (Chinese town) [1]
1975 VD · 1982 RD2
1982 UU
main-belt [1][2] · (inner)
background [3]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc42.21 yr (15,418 d)
Aphelion2.8529 AU
Perihelion1.7765 AU
2.3147 AU
Eccentricity0.2325
3.52 yr (1,286 d)
40.564°
0° 16m 47.64s / day
Inclination5.3929°
3.2435°
349.13°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
3.645±0.045 km[4]
0.305±0.030[4]
14.3[2]

    Orbit and classification

    Luyi is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the inner asteroid belt at a distance of 1.8–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,286 days; semi-major axis of 2.31 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.23 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with its first and official discovery observation at Oak Ridge.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    The asteroid has an absolute magnitude of 14.3.[2] Its spectral type is unknown. Based on its high albedo (see below), Luyi is a bright asteroid of the S-complex. As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the asteroid measures 3.645 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a high albedo of 0.30.[4]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after a town in the eastern Henan province of China that was the birthplace of Laozi, founder of Taoism, because long-time participant in Harvard's minor-planet program, astronomer Cheng-yuan Shao (born 1927), came from that town (also see 1881 Shao). The asteroid is also named after his son, Luyi.[1]

    The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 21 November 1991 (M.P.C. 19339).[5]

    References
    1. "4776 Luyi (1975 VD)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4776 Luyi (1975 VD)" (2018-01-19 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
    3. "Asteroid 4776 Luyi – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
    4. Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
    5. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

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