9949 Brontosaurus

9949 Brontosaurus, provisional designation 1990 SK6, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, roughly 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 September 1990, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.[4] It was named after Brontosaurus, a genus of dinosaurs.[3]

9949 Brontosaurus
Orbit of Brontosaurus (blue), with the inner planets and Jupiter (outermost)
Discovery [1]
Discovered byE. W. Elst
Discovery siteLa Silla Obs.
Discovery date22 September 1990
Designations
(9949) Brontosaurus
Pronunciation/ˌbrɒntəˈsɔːrəs/[2]
Named after
Brontosaurus
(sauropod dinosaur)[3]
1990 SK6 · 1978 GT1
1985 DM1 · 1992 BS
main-belt [1][4] · (inner)
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc38.98 yr (14,236 days)
Aphelion2.4982 AU
Perihelion2.2105 AU
2.3544 AU
Eccentricity0.0611
3.61 yr (1,319 days)
322.53°
0° 16m 22.08s / day
Inclination7.7036°
29.841°
174.63°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions4.231±0.086 km[5]
17 km[6]
0.248±0.010[5]
13.8[1]

    Orbit and classification

    Brontosaurus orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.2–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,319 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It was first identified as 1978 GT1 at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1978, extending the body's observation arc by 12 years prior to its official discovery observation at La Silla.[4]

    Physical characteristics

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Brontosaurus measures 17 and 4.231 kilometers in diameter, respectively.[5][6] WISE/NEOWISE also gives an albedo of 0.248 for the body's surface.[5] It has an absolute magnitude of 13.8.[1]

    Rotation period

    As of 2017, the asteroid's rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][7]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after Brontosaurus, a gigantic quadruped sauropod dinosaurs, which walked on all four legs and lived in the Upper Jurassic. Adult individuals measured up to 20 meters and had a weight of up to 20 tons. Many Fossils have been found in the United States. Brontosaurus is one of the best-known dinosaurs.[3] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 November 2002 (M.P.C. 47166).[8]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 9949 Brontosaurus (1990 SK6)" (2017-03-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    2. "Brontosaurus". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
    3. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(9949) Brontosaurus". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (9949) Brontosaurus. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 714. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_7766. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    4. "9949 Brontosaurus (1990 SK6)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
    5. 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 17 March 2017.
    6. Tedesco E.F.; Noah P.V.; Noah M.; Price S.D. "The supplemental IRAS minor planet survey (SIMPS)".
    7. "LCDB Data for (9949) Brontosaurus". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 17 March 2017.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 March 2017.

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