2325 Chernykh

Orbit and classification

Chernykh is a Themistian asteroid that belongs to the Themis family (602), a very large family of carbonaceous asteroids, named after 24 Themis. It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.6–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 7 months (2,031 days; semi-major axis of 3.14 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with its first precovery observation at Palomar Observatory in May 1955.

Physical characteristics

Although the asteroid's spectral type is unknown, its albedo indicates a carbonaceous composition, which also agrees with C-type classification for the Themistian asteroids.

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Chernykh measures 22.789 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.065. As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Chernykh has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named after the Russian astronomers Lyudmila Chernykh (1935–2017) and Nikolai Chernykh (1931–2004), prolific discoverers of minor planets who lead the extensive astrometric program at the discovering Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1981 (M.P.C. 6060).

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