4446 Carolyn

Orbit and classification

Carolyn is a member of the dynamical Hilda group of asteroids. However, it is not a member of any asteroid family but an asteroid of the main-belt's background population when applying the hierarchical clustering method to its proper orbital elements. It orbits the Sun in the outermost asteroid belt at a distance of 2.9–5.1 AU once every 8 years (2,911 days; semi-major axis of 3.99 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.28 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.

The body's observation arc begins with its first observations as at Crimea–Nauchnij in September 1977, or 8 years prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.

Physical characteristics

Carolyn is an assumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid.

Rotation period

In July 2016, a first rotational lightcurve of Carolyn was obtained from photometric observations by astronomers Brian Warner, Robert Stephens and Dan Coley at the Center for Solar System Studies in California. Lightcurve analysis gave a well-defined rotation period of 40.92 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.22 magnitude (). While not being a slow rotator, its period is significantly longer than the typical 2 to 20 hours measured for most asteroids.

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Carolyn measures 28.645 and 31.57 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.086 and 0.075, respectively.

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and calculates a diameter of 32.03 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 11.2.

Naming

This minor planet was named by the discoverer after American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker (born 1929), a prolific discoverer of minor planets and comets, such as Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. Many of her discoveries were co-discoveries with her husband Gene Shoemaker. The official naming citation was prepared by David Levy and Jean Mueller, and published by the Minor Planet Center on 27 June 1991 (M.P.C. 18458).

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