• Source: 6257 Thorvaldsen

6257 Thorvaldsen, provisional designation 4098 T-1, is a bright Vestian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) in diameter. It was discovered during the Palomar–Leiden Trojan survey on 26 March 1971, by Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden, and Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory in California. The asteroid was named for Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.




Orbit and classification


When applying the hierarchical clustering method to its proper orbital elements, Thorvaldsen is a member of the Vesta family. It orbits the Sun in the inner asteroid belt at a distance of 2.1–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,309 days; semi-major axis of 2.34 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic. The asteroid was first observed as 1969 TH2 at Crimea–Nauchnij in October 1969. The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Palomar in 1971.




= Palomar–Leiden Trojan survey

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The survey designation "T-1" stands for the first Palomar–Leiden Trojan survey, named after the fruitful collaboration of the Palomar and Leiden Observatory in the 1960s and 1970s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden Observatory where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand asteroid discoveries.




Naming


This minor planet was named after Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1768–1844). The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 5 March 1996 (M.P.C. 26765).




Physical characteristics


Vestian asteroids have a composition akin to cumulate eucrites (HED meteorites) and are thought to have originated deep within 4 Vesta's crust, possibly from the Rheasilvia crater, a large impact crater on its southern hemisphere near the South pole, formed as a result of a subcatastrophic collision. Vesta is the main belt's second-largest and second-most-massive body after Ceres. Thorvaldsen has an absolute magnitude of 13.7. As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of this asteroid has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.




= Diameter and albedo

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Thorvaldsen measures 4.278 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a high albedo of 0.384.




References






External links


Lightcurve Database Query (LCDB), at www.minorplanet.info
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (5001)-(10000) – Minor Planet Center
6257 Thorvaldsen at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
6257 Thorvaldsen at the JPL Small-Body Database

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• 6257 Thorvaldsen
• Jason with the Golden Fleece (Thorvaldsen)
• Meanings of minor-planet names: 6001–7000
• List of minor planets: 6001–7000
• List of named minor planets: T
• List of named minor planets: 6000–6999
• Palomar–Leiden survey