6255 Kuma

6255 Kuma, provisional designation 1994 XT, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 22 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 5 December 1994, by Japanese astronomer Akimasa Nakamura at Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory on the Island of Shikoku, Japan.[12] It was named after the Japanese town of Kumakōgen.[2]

6255 Kuma
Discovery [1]
Discovered byA. Nakamura
Discovery siteKuma Kogen Obs.
Discovery date5 December 1994
Designations
(6255) Kuma
Named after
Kuma, Ehime
(Japanese town)[2]
1994 XT · 1975 VJ8
1981 DV3 · 1986 EB2
1988 SU4 · 1989 WP3
1992 OL1
main-belt · (middle)
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc41.37 yr (15,110 days)
Aphelion2.8302 AU
Perihelion2.6527 AU
2.7414 AU
Eccentricity0.0324
4.54 yr (1,658 days)
37.407°
0° 13m 1.56s / day
Inclination5.1205°
275.38°
193.11°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions15.53±3.67 km[3]
15.74±5.52 km[4]
16.955±0.135 km[5][6]
17.86±0.52 km[7]
21.50±9.05 km[8]
22.67 km (derived)[9]
22.72±1.7 km (IRAS:3)[10]
9.70±0.01 h[11][lower-alpha 1]
0.0238 (derived)[9]
0.029±0.029[8]
0.0342±0.006 (IRAS:3)[10]
0.04±0.03[4]
0.058±0.004[7]
0.060±0.001[3][5][6]
C [9]
12.5[5][7][10] · 12.80[3][8] · 12.9[1][9] · 13.09[4]

    Classification and orbit

    Kuma is a dark asteroid that orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.7–2.8 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,658 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.03 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The first precovery was taken at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1975, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 19 years prior to its discovery.[12]

    Physical characteristics

    Kuma is an assumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid.[9]

    Rotation period

    In September 2006, a rotational lightcurve of Kuma was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomer Brian Warner at the Palmer Divide Observatory (716) in Colorado. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 9.70 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.15 magnitude (U=2).[11][lower-alpha 1]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the space-based surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its NEOWISE mission, Kuma measures between 15.53 and 22.72 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has a low albedo in the range of 0.029 to 0.06.[3][4][5][7][8][10]

    The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an even lower albedo of 0.02 and a diameter of 22.7 kilometers using an absolute magnitude of 12.9.[9]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after the Japanese rural town Kuma (now Kumakōgen, Ehime), home of the discovering observatory that was built in 1992 for astronomical education and tourism. Kuma is located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, after which the minor planet 4223 Shikoku is named. The town supports local cultural activities and is a significant destination for pilgrims.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 14 May 1995 (M.P.C. 25231).[13]

    Notes
    1. Lightcurve plot of 6255 Kuma. Palmer Divide Observatory, B. D. Warner (2006). Summary figures at Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL)

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6255 Kuma (1994 XT)" (2017-03-21 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(6255) Kuma". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (6255) Kuma. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 521. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5754. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Masiero, J.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Grav, T.; et al. (December 2015). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year One: Preliminary Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 814 (2): 13. arXiv:1509.02522. Bibcode:2015ApJ...814..117N. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/814/2/117. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
    4. Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Kramer, E. A.; Grav, T.; et al. (September 2016). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year Two: Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astronomical Journal. 152 (3): 12. arXiv:1606.08923. Bibcode:2016AJ....152...63N. doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/3/63. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
    5. Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    6. 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 5 December 2016.
    7. Usui, Fumihiko; Kuroda, Daisuke; Müller, Thomas G.; Hasegawa, Sunao; Ishiguro, Masateru; Ootsubo, Takafumi; et al. (October 2011). "Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 63 (5): 1117–1138. Bibcode:2011PASJ...63.1117U. doi:10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117. Retrieved 17 October 2019. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
    8. Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    9. "LCDB Data for (6255) Kuma". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    10. Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
    11. Warner, Brian D. (March 2007). "Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory - June-September 2006". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 34 (1): 8–10. Bibcode:2007MPBu...34....8W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    12. "6255 Kuma (1994 XT)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    13. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 May 2016.

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