1434 Margot

Orbit and classification

Margot is a member the Eos family (606), the largest asteroid family of the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.8–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 3 months (1,916 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.

The body's observation arc begins at Vienna Observatory in August 1906, when it was first identified as , almost 30 years prior to its official discovery observation at Simeiz.

Physical characteristics

In the Tholen classification, Margot is a common S-type asteroid. Pan-STARRS photometric survey also characterizes it as a stony S-type, while the overall spectral type for Eoan asteroids is that of a K-type.

Rotation period

In June 1984, a rotational lightcurve of Margot was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomer Richard Binzel . Lightcurve analysis gave a well-defined rotation period of 8.17 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.52 magnitude, indicative of a somewhat elongated shape ().

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Margot measures between 27.178 and 30.84 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.117 and 0.1353.

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.1106 and a diameter of 29.49 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.66.

Naming

This minor planet was named by German astronomer Wilhelm Gliese after Gertrud Margot Zottmann (1915–1990; née Görsdorf), his friend and schoolfellow for several years at Berlin. Gliese, after whom the asteroid is named, is best known for the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars, which is itself the source of name for many discovered exoplanets. The discovery circumstances and naming were researched by Lutz Schmadel, the author of the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names.

References