2121 Sevastopol

2121 Sevastopol, provisional designation 1971 ME, is a stony Florian asteroid and synchronous binary system from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 June 1971, by Russian astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean peninsula.[7] Its minor-planet moon was discovered in 2010.

2121 Sevastopol
Discovery [1]
Discovered byT. Smirnova
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Obs.
Discovery date27 June 1971
Designations
(2121) Sevastopol
Pronunciation/səˈvæstəpoʊl/[2]
Named after
Sevastopol city[3]
1971 ME · 1932 HM
1936 WD · 1938 DY
1939 TO · 1952 SZ
1968 QJ1 · 1977 ED2
1978 WG
main-belt · Flora [4]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc79.82 yr (29,154 days)
Aphelion2.5731 AU
Perihelion1.7945 AU
2.1838 AU
Eccentricity0.1783
3.23 yr (1,179 days)
94.889°
0° 18m 19.44s / day
Inclination4.3780°
145.72°
160.38°
Known satellites1[4][5]
Physical characteristics
Dimensions8.736±0.037 km[6]
12.48 km (calculated)[4]
2.90640 h[4]
0.24 (assumed)[4]
0.308±0.023[6]
S [4]
12.2
    S/2010 (2121) 1
    Discovery
    Discovered byD. Higgins, P. Pravec, P. Kusnirak, J. Pollock, J. Oey, M. Husarik, G. Cervak, D. E. Reichart, K. M. Ivarsen, J. B. Haislip, and A. LaCluyze
    Discovery date2010/07/23
    Light curve
    Orbital characteristics
    26 km
    1.546 d
    13 hours, 6 minutes
    46 mas (maximum)
    Satellite of2121 Sevastopol
    Physical characteristics
    Dimensions3.54 ± 0.17 km
    Volume20.0-26.7 km3 (assumed)
    1.9 ± 0.1 fainter than primary
    ~16.1

      Orbit and characterization

      Sevastopol is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,179 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

      Satellite

      In 2010, a minor-planet moon, designated S/2010 (2121) 1, was discovered around Sevastopol, orbiting at a distance of 26 kilometers with a diameter of 3.54 ± 0.17 km.[5]

      Naming

      The asteroid was named after the Crimean city on the 200th anniversary of its foundation.[3] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 January 1983 (M.P.C. 7616).[8]

      References
      1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)" (2016-09-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
      2. "Sevastopol". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
      3. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2121) Sevastopol". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2121) Sevastopol. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 172. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2122. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
      4. "LCDB Data for (2121) Sevastopol". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
      5. Johnston, Robert. "(2121) Sevastopol". johnstonsarchive.net. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
      6. Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. S2CID 119293330. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
      7. "2121 Sevastopol (1971 ME)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
      8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

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