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1198 Atlantis

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1198 Atlantis
Discovery[1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date7 September 1931
Designations
(1198) Atlantis
Pronunciation/ætˈlæntɪs/
Named after
Island of Atlantis
(Greek mythology)[2]
1931 RA · 1958 RQ
1975 TQ4 · 1975 VX6
Mars-crosser[1][3][4]
Symbol (astrological)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc85.48 yr (31,220 days)
Aphelion3.0065 AU
Perihelion1.4941 AU
2.2503 AU
Eccentricity0.3360
3.38 yr (1,233 days)
168.18°
0° 17m 31.2s / day
Inclination2.7234°
259.58°
84.528°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.92 km (calculated)[4]
16 h[5]
0.20 (assumed)[4]
SMASS = L[1] · S[4]
14.07±0.53[6] · 14.4[1][4]

1198 Atlantis, provisional designation 1931 RA, is a rare-type asteroid and eccentric Mars-crosser from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3.9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 7 September 1931, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany.[3] The asteroid was named after the mythological island of Atlantis.[2]

Orbit

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Atlantis orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.5–3.0 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,233 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.34 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The asteroids's observation arc begins at Heidelberg one week after its official discovery observation.[3]

Physical characteristics

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In the SMASS classification, Atlantis is a rare L-type asteroid, that belong to the larger complex of stony asteroids.[1]

Rotation period

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In August 2012, a rotational lightcurve of Atlantis was obtained from photometric observations by Italian astronomer Albino Carbognani at the OAVdA Observatory (B04) in Italy. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of at least 16 hours with a brightness variation of 0.20 magnitude (U=2).[5]

Diameter and albedo

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Atlantis has not been observed by any space-based survey, such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, or the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 3.92 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 14.4.[4]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after the fictional island of Atlantis from Greek mythology, mentioned in some of Plato's works around 360 BC. The greedy and morally bankrupt civilization of Atlantis was punished by the gods with fire and earthquakes that caused the island to sink into the sea. The naming was suggested by astronomer Gustav Stracke, after whom the asteroids (1227) through (1234) were indirectly named by the discoverer.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1198 Atlantis (1931 RA)" (2017-02-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1198) Atlantis". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1198) Atlantis. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 100. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1199. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c "1198 Atlantis (1931 RA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (1198) Atlantis". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Carbognani, Albino (January 2014). "Asteroids Lightcurves at Oavda: 2012 June - 2013 March". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 41 (1): 4–8. Bibcode:2014MPBu...41....4C. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  6. ^ Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
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