1621 Druzhba

Classification and orbit

Druzhba is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest collisional groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,216 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic. Druzhba's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory, one week after its official discovery observation.

Physical characteristics

In the Tholen classification, Druzhba is a common S-type asteroid.

Rotation period

In August 2009, American amateur astronomer Robert D. Stephens obtained a rotational lightcurve of Druzhba from photometric observations. In gave a well-defined rotation period of 99.20 hours with a change in brightness of 0.75 magnitude () A 2016-published modeled light-curve of 99.100 hours concurred with the result.

This makes it a relatively slow rotator, as the vast majority of minor planets rotate every 2 to 20 hours around their axis. Druzhba's long rotation period was particularly difficulty to measure: Previously, observations by Richard Ditteon at Oakley Observatory gave a period solution of 47.9 hours (Δmag 1.0; ), while Polish astronomer Wiesław Wiśniewski obtained a period of only 12 hours in the late 1980s (Δmag 0.16; ).

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Druzhba measures between 9.08 and 12.69 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo between 0.237 and 0.312.

Based on an absolute magnitude of 12.37, the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives a diameter of 9.05 kilometers and an albedo of 0.243 – similar to the albedo of 8 Flora, the family's largest member and namesake.

Naming

This minor planet was named Druzhba, this is a Slavic word for friendship and the name of several cities, towns and other localities in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. The asteroid's name was proposed by the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in St. Petersburg. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1967 (M.P.C. 2740).

References

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