10140 Villon

10140 Villon
Discovery[1]
Discovered byE. W. Elst
Discovery siteCERGA Obs.
Discovery date19 September 1993
Designations
(10140) Villon
Named after
François Villon[1]
(French poet)
1993 SX4 · 1973 GZ
1977 KH · 1984 CJ
1990 WQ15
main-belt[1][2] · (inner)
Nysa[3]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc44.91 yr (16,402 d)
Aphelion2.7383 AU
Perihelion2.1022 AU
2.4203 AU
Eccentricity0.1314
3.77 yr (1,375 d)
340.65°
0° 15m 42.48s / day
Inclination2.6208°
165.49°
21.421°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
4.785±0.134 km[4]
0.280±0.078[4]
13.7[2]

10140 Villon, provisional designation 1993 SX4, is a Nysian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 19 September 1993, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at the CERGA Observatory at Caussols in France.[1] It was named after 15th-century French poet François Villon.[1]

Orbit and classification[edit]

Villon is member of the Nysa family (405),[3] one of the largest asteroid families.[5] It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.1–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 9 months (1,375 days; semi-major axis of 2.42 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with its first observations as 1973 GZ at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in April 1973, more than 20 years prior to its official discovery observation at Caussols.[1]

Physical characteristics[edit]

Villon's spectral type has not been determined, Based on its family classification and measured albedo (see below), it is likely a stony S-type asteroid.[5] It has an absolute magnitude of 13.7.[2] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Villon has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2]

Diameter and albedo[edit]

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Villon measures 4.785 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.280.[4]

Naming[edit]

This minor planet was named after medieval French poet François Villon (1431–1463).[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 July 1999 (M.P.C. 35493).[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "10140 Villon (1993 SX4)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 10140 Villon (1993 SX4)" (2018-02-26 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid 10140 Villon – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68.
  5. ^ a b Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 9780816532131.
  6. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

External links[edit]