5656 Oldfield

5656 Oldfield, provisional designation A920 TA, is a background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7.7 kilometers (4.8 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 8 October 1920, by astronomer Walter Baade at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg, Germany. The asteroid was named for English musician Mike Oldfield.[1]

5656 Oldfield
Discovery [1]
Discovered byW. Baade
Discovery siteBergedorf Obs.
Discovery date8 October 1920
Designations
(5656) Oldfield
Named after
Mike Oldfield [1]
(English musician)
A920 TA · 1978 WW18
1981 JZ5
main-belt [1][2] · (inner)
background [3]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc97.29 yr (35,536 d)
Aphelion3.1076 AU
Perihelion1.8111 AU
2.4594 AU
Eccentricity0.2636
3.86 yr (1,409 d)
125.66°
0° 15m 19.8s / day
Inclination4.0144°
248.67°
83.725°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
7.691±0.051 km[4]
0.075±0.009[4]
14.1[2]

    Orbit and classification

    Oldfield is a non-family asteroid of the main belt's background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–3.1 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,409 days; semi-major axis of 2.46 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.26 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

    The body's observation arc begins at Bergedorf two nights after its official discovery observation.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Oldfield measures 7.691 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.075.[4]

    Rotation period

    As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Oldfield has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[2]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after English composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield (born 1953), creator of the famed Tubular Bells albums.[1] The official naming citation was proposed by Gareth V. Williams and published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 April 1994 (M.P.C. 23353).[5]

    References
    1. "5656 Oldfield (A920 TA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 5656 Oldfield (A920 TA)" (2018-01-23 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
    3. "Asteroid 5656 Oldfield – 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 10 April 2018.
    5. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 April 2018.

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