52 Europa

Physical characteristics

thumb|left|3D model of Europa based on [[lightcurve]] modeling Europa is approximately the sixth largest asteroid by volume. Most likely it has a density of around 1.5 g/cm3, typical of C-type asteroids. In 2007, James Baer and Steven R. Chesley estimated Europa to have a mass of kg.{{cite journal |author2-link=Steven R. Chesley |access-date=29 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702212735/http://home.earthlink.net/~jimbaer1/astmass.txt |archive-date=2 July 2013 |url-status=dead

Europa is a very dark carbonaceous C-type, and is the second largest of this group. Spectroscopic studies have found evidence of olivines and pyroxenes on the surface, It orbits close to the Hygiea asteroid family, but is not a member.

Lightcurve data for Europa have been particularly tricky to interpret, so much so that for a long time its period of rotation was in dispute (ranging from hours to 11 hours), despite numerous observations. It has now been determined that Europa is a prograde rotator, but the exact direction in which its pole points remains ambiguous. The most detailed analysis indicates that it points either towards about ecliptic coordinates (β, λ) = (70°, 55°) or (40°, 255°) with a 10° uncertainty. This gives an axial tilt of about 14° or 54°, respectively.

In 1988 a search for satellites or dust orbiting this asteroid was performed using the UH88 telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories, but the effort came up empty.{{Citation

Observations

It has been found that the reputed cataclysmic variable star CV Aquarii, discovered in 1934, was actually a misidentification of 52 Europa.

Notes

References

Not in use--

Bibliography

• PDS lightcurve data
• Schmeer, P., and M. L. Hazen, CV Aquarii identified with (52) Europa, Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, Vol. 28, p. 103 (2000).

References

1. Noah Webster (1884) ''A Practical Dictionary of the English Language''
2. [https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=Europa JPL data] Retrieved 2021-09-29
3. P. Vernazza et al. (2021) VLT/SPHERE imaging survey of the largest main-belt asteroids: Final results and synthesis. ''Astronomy & Astrophysics'' 54, A56
4. 
   {{val. 22.6. 1.6
5. (2000). "ISO results on bright Main Belt asteroids: PHT-S observations". [[Astronomy and Astrophysics]].
6. Merline, W.J.. (2013). "The Resolved Asteroid Program – Size, shape, and pole of (52) Europa". Icarus.
7. Sawyer, Scott Raleigh. (1 January 1991). "A High-Resolution CCD Spectroscopic Survey of Low-Albedo Main Belt Asteroids.". PhD Thesis.
8. "CV Aquarii identified with (52) Europa".
9. (2004). "Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids I. 52 Europa, 115 Thyra, and 382 Dodona". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
10. (2000). "ISO results on bright Main Belt asteroids: PHT–S observations". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
11. (1983). "On the ambiguity of rotational periods of asteroids: The peculiar case of 52 Europa". Icarus.