52 Europa
Encyclopedia : 5 : 52 : 52E : 52 Europa
| Orbital elements | |
|---|---|
| Eccentricity (orbit)>e | |
| Inclination>i | ° |
| Perihelion>q |
|
| Argument of perihelion>ω | ° |
| Semi-major axis>a | AU |
| Longitude of the ascending node>ω | ° |
| Aphelion>Q |
|
| Mean anomaly>M | ° |
| Orbital period>P | years |
| Mean motion>n | °/day |
| Time of perihelion passage>TP | |
52 Europa is an asteroid. It has a diameter of 289 km, and was discovered on February 4, 1858 by H. Goldschmidt. It is named after Europa, one of Zeus's conquests in Greek mythology. Europa is the seventh largest asteroid, and contains somewhat less than 2% of the mass of the entire main belt.
It is a very dark carbonaceous C-type, and the fourth-largest of these. It orbits close to the Hygiea asteroid family, but is not a member. Spectroscopic studies have found evidence of olivines and pyroxenes on the surface[5], and there is some indication that there may be compositional differences between different regions[link]
Lightcurve data for Europa has been particularly tricky to interpret, so much so for a long time its period of rotation was in dispute (5 and a half, or 11 hours?) despite numerous observations[8]. It has now been determined that Europa is a prograde rotator, but the exact direction in which its pole points remains ambiguous. The most detailed analysis indicates that it points either towards about ecliptic coordinates (β, λ) = (70°, 55°) or (40°, 255°) with a 10° uncertainty [2]. This gives an axial tilt of about 14° or 54°, respectively.
It has been found that reputed cataclysmic variable star CV Aquarii found in 1934, was actually a false misidentification of 52 Europa[link].
52 Europa should not be confused with Jupiter's moon Europa.
References
- T. Michałowski et al [Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids I. 52 Europa, 115 Thyra, and 382 Dodona], Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol. 416, p. 353 (2004).G. Michalak [Determination of asteroid masses II. (6) Hebe, (10) Hygiea, (15) Eunomia, (52) Europa, (88) Thisbe, (444) Gyptis, (511) Davida and (704) Interamnia], Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol. 374, p. 703 (2001)
- [PDS lightcurve data]
E. Dotto et al [ISO results on bright Main Belt asteroids: PHT–S observations], Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol. 358, p. 1133 (2000).S.R. Sawyer [A High-Resolution CCD Spectroscopic Survey of Low-Albedo Main Belt Asteroids], PhD thesis, The University of Texas (1991).- P. Schmeer and M.L. Hazen [CV Aquarii identified with (52) Europa], Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, Vol. 28, p. 103 (2000).
V. Zappalà, M. di Martino and S. Cacciatori On the ambiguity of rotational periods of asteroids - The peculiar case of 52 Europa, Icarus, Vol. 56, p. 319 (1983).External links
Aspects
! Stationary, than retrograde
Opposition Distance at opposition Brightness at opposition Stationary, than prograde Conjunction to sun 18. December 2004 2. February 2005 1,81989 AE 9,9 mag 21. March 2005 25. September 2005 14. March 2006 3. May 2006 2,18920 AE 10,8 mag 28. June 2006 11. December 2006 19. May 2007 13. July 2007 2,39864 AE 11,0 mag 6. September 2007 12. February 2008 2. August 2008 20. September 2008 2,19974 AE 10,8 mag 13. November 2008 28. April 2009 31. October 2009 18. December 2009 1,83257 AE 10,1 mag 4. February 2010 11. August 2010 8. February 2011 26. March 2011 1,99533 AE 10,5 mag 18. May 2011 9. November 2011 18. April 2012 12. June 2012 2,35248 AE 11,1 mag 6. August 2012 13. January 2013 27. June 2013 18. August 2013 2,33733 AE 10,9 mag 11. October 2013 21. March 2014 18. September 2014 5. November 2014 1,98249 AE 10,5 mag 27. December 2014 22. June 2015 27. December 2015 11. February 2016 1,83583 AE 10,0 mag 29. March 2016 2. October 2016 20. March 2017 9. May 2017 2,22040 AE 10,9 mag 5. July 2017 16. December 2017 25. May 2018 19. July 2018 2,39729 AE 11,0 mag 11. September 2018 17. February 2019 10. August 2019 27. September 2019 2,16881 AE 10,8 mag 20. November 2019 5. May 2020 9. November 2020 26. December 2020 1,81785 AE 10,1 mag 12. February 2021 19. August 2021 … | Previous minor planet | | Next minor planet | …
The minor planets Vulcanoids | Near-Earth asteroids | Main belt | Jupiter Trojans | Centaurs | Damocloids | Comets | Trans-Neptunians (Kuiper belt · Scattered disc · Oort cloud) For other objects and regions, see: , , asteroid moons and the Solar system
For a complete listing, see: List of asteroids. See also Pronunciation of asteroid names and Meanings of asteroid names.
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