- Source: 2311 El Leoncito
2311 El Leoncito, provisional designation 1974 TA1, is a dark and reddish asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 53 kilometers in diameter. The asteroid was discovered by astronomers at Félix Aguilar Observatory at the Leoncito Astronomical Complex in Argentina on 10 October 1974. It was later named after the discovering site.
Orbit and classification
El Leoncito orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 3.5–3.8 AU once every 6 years and 11 months (2,533 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.04 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.
It has a well-observed orbit with the lowest possible uncertainty – a condition code of 0 – and an observation arc that spans over a period of almost half a century, using precovery images on photographic plates from 1972.
Physical characteristics
El Leoncito is characterized as a D-type asteroid in the Tholen taxonomy, one of only 46 known asteroids of this spectral type.
The body has a low albedo of 0.04, typical for D-type asteroids. Its rotation period, however, remains unknown.
Naming
This minor planet derives its name from the Spanish name of the discovering astronomical complex of observatories, the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO). The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 September 1983 (M.P.C. 8153).
References
External links
Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
2311 El Leoncito at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
2311 El Leoncito at the JPL Small-Body Database
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- 2311 El Leoncito
- Leoncito
- El Leoncito
- D-type asteroid
- List of minor planets: 2001–3000
- Meanings of minor-planet names: 2001–3000
- List of named minor planets: 2000–2999
- Cybele asteroids
- 2312 Duboshin
- List of named minor planets: E
