1851 Lacroute

1851 Lacroute
Discovery [1]
Discovered by L. Boyer
Discovery site Algiers Obs.
Discovery date 9 November 1950
Designations
MPC designation (1851) Lacroute
Named after
 Pierre Lacroute
(French astronomer)[2]
1950 VA
main-belt · (inner)
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 66.35 yr (24,236 days)
Aphelion 3.7003 AU
Perihelion 2.5044 AU
3.1024 AU
Eccentricity 0.1927
5.46 yr (1,996 days)
85.690°
0° 10m 49.44s / day
Inclination 1.6660°
24.766°
343.20°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 16.89 km (IRAS)[3]
18.158±0.108 km[4]
0.049±0.007[4]
0.0745±0.009 (IRAS)[3]
12.7[1]

    1851 Lacroute, provisional designation 1950 VA, is an asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 17 kilometers in diameter.

    It was discovered on 9 November 1950, by French astronomer Louis Boyer at the Algiers Observatory in the capital of Algeria, Northern Africa, and named after French astronomer Pierre Lacroute.[2][5]

    Orbit and classification

    Lacroute orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.5–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 6 months (1,996 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.19 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] As no precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made, the body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation in 1950.[5]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Lacroute measures 16.9 and 18.2 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo of 0.049 and 0.074, respectively.[3][4] As of 2016, the body's spectral type, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][6]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named in honor of French astronomer Pierre Lacroute (1906–1993), a known astrometrist, president of IAU's Commission 24 in the 1970s, and director of the Observatory of Strasbourg, instrumental in the establishment of the Stellar Data Center (also see SIMBAD).[2]

    Lacroute also made an independent reduction of the astrometric star catalogue AGK3, using a technique involving overlapping photographic plates.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center before November 1977 (M.P.C. 4419).[7]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1851 Lacroute (1950 VA)" (2017-03-18 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1851) Lacroute. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 148. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
    5. 1 2 "1851 Lacroute (1950 VA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    6. ↑ "LCDB Data for (1851) Lacroute". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 8 June 2017.
    7. ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
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