17365 Thymbraeus

Jupiter trojan asteroid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

17365 Thymbraeus (provisional designation 1978 VF11) is a Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, which is located in Jupiter's trailing L5 Lagrangian point.

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17365 Thymbraeus
Discovery[1]
Discovered byEleanor F. Helin
Schelte J. Bus
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date7 November 1978
Designations
(17365) Thymbraeus
1978 VF11 · 1998 MM49 · 1999 RE121[2]
Jupiter trojan[2][1]
Trojan (L5)[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 13 September 2023 (JD 2460200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc68.79 yr (25,125 days)
Earliest precovery date23 November 1954
Aphelion5.683 AU
Perihelion4.856 AU
5.270 AU
Eccentricity0.0785
12.10 yr (4,418 days)
321.875°
0° 4m 53.321s / day
Inclination11.644°
252.124°
117.711°
Physical characteristics[4]:3
44.904±0.525 km[1]
Mean density
0.830±0.050 g/cm3[4]:3
12.671821 h (retrograde)
or 12.672607 h (prograde)[4]:3
North pole right ascension
92°± (retrograde)
or 268°± (prograde)[4]:3
North pole declination
−77°± (retrograde)
or +77°± (prograde)[4]:3
0.066±0.009[1]
10.59±0.04[1]
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    Background

    It was discovered by Eleanor Helin and Schelte Bus at Palomar Observatory on 7 November 1978.[2] Thymbraeus is 45 kilometres (28 mi) in diameter and has an elongated dumbbell shape that is on the verge of splitting apart due to centrifugal forces of its rapid rotation.[4] The asteroid's density is less than that of water, indicating that it has a highly porous interior structure similar to a rubble pile.[5][6][4] It was given the name Thymbraeus on 27 February 2023, after one of the two sons of the Trojan priest Laocoön who was attacked by sea serpents for attempting to warn the Trojans about the Trojan horse in Greek mythology.[7]

    References

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