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{{Short description|Carbonaceous Themistian asteroid}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox planet
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| minorplanet = yes
| name = 1778 Alfvén
| name = 1778 Alfvén
| background = #FFFFC0
| background = #D6D6D6
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| discovery_ref = &thinsp;<ref name="jpldata" />
| discovery_ref = <ref name="jpldata" />
| discovered = 26 September 1960
| discovered = 26 September 1960
| discoverer = [[Palomar–Leiden survey]]<br />[[Cornelis Johannes van Houten|C. J. van Houten]], [[Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld|I. van Houten-Groeneveld]], [[Tom Gehrels]]
| discoverer = [[Cornelis Johannes van Houten|C. J. van Houten]]<br />[[Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld|I. van Houten-G.]]<br />[[Tom Gehrels]]
| discovery_site = [[Palomar Observatory|Palomar Obs.]]
| discovery_site = [[Palomar Observatory|Palomar Obs.]]
| mp_name = 1778 Alfvén
| mpc_name = (1778) Alfvén
| alt_names = 4506 P–L{{·}}1936 HK<br />{{mp|1952 DD|1}}{{·}}1958 FB<br />1959 NN
| alt_names = 4506 P-L{{·}}1936 HK<br />{{mp|1952 DD|1}}{{·}}1958 FB<br />1959 NN
| named_after = [[Hannes Alfvén]]<br />{{small|(physicist)}}<ref name="springer" />
| named_after = [[Hannes Alfvén]] {{small|(physicist)}}<ref name="springer" />
| mp_category = [[main-belt]]{{·}}[[Themis family|Themis]]&thinsp;<ref name="lcdb" />
| mp_category = [[main-belt]]{{·}}[[Themis family|Themis]]<ref name="lcdb" />
| orbit_ref = &thinsp;<ref name="jpldata" />
| orbit_ref = <ref name="jpldata" />
| epoch = 31 May 2021 ([[Julian day|JD]] 2459000.5)
| uncertainty = 0
| uncertainty = 0
| observation_arc = {{nowrap|61.16 yr (22,338 days)}}
| observation_arc = 66.12 yr (24,152 days) (JPL)<br /> 113.65 yr (41,511 days) (MPC)<ref name="MPC-Alfven" />
| aphelion = 3.5486 [[Astronomical unit|AU]]
| aphelion = 3.5505 [[Astronomical unit|AU]]
| perihelion = 2.7467 AU
| perihelion = 2.7420 AU
| semimajor = 3.1477 AU
| semimajor = 3.1462 AU
| eccentricity = 0.1273
| eccentricity = 0.1285
| period = 5.58 [[Julian year (astronomy)|yr]] (2,040 days)
| period = 5.58 [[Julian year (astronomy)|yr]] (2,038 days)
| mean_anomaly = 41.519[[degree (angle)|°]]
| mean_anomaly = 358.82[[Degree (angle)|°]]
| inclination = 2.4738°
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.1765|sup=ms}} / day
| asc_node = 106.25°
| inclination = 2.4742°
| arg_peri = 135.96°
| asc_node = 106.24°
| moid = 1.7345 AU
| arg_peri = 136.41°
| dimensions = 20.51 km {{small|(caculated)}}<ref name="lcdb" />
| dimensions = 20.51 km {{small|(calculated)}}<ref name="lcdb" /><br />{{val|20.623|0.240}} km<ref name="WISE" /><ref name="Masiero-2011" />
| rotation = 4.82 [[hour|h]]<ref name="Chang-2014a" /><br />{{val|4.8050|0.0027}} h<ref name="Waszczak-2015" />
| rotation = {{val|4.8050|0.0027}} h<ref name="Waszczak-2015" /><br />{{val|4.82|0.05}} [[Hour|h]]<ref name="Chang-2014a" />
| albedo = 0.08 {{small|(assumed)}}<ref name="lcdb" />
| albedo = 0.08 {{small|(assumed)}}<ref name="lcdb" /><br />{{val|0.095|0.007}}<ref name="WISE" /><ref name="Masiero-2011" />
| spectral_type = [[C-type asteroid|C]]&thinsp;<ref name="lcdb" />
| spectral_type = [[C-type asteroid|C]]<ref name="lcdb" />
| abs_magnitude = {{val|11.59|0.15}} {{small|(R)}}<ref name="Chang-2014a" />{{·}}11.6<ref name="WISE" />{{·}}{{val|11.725|0.003}} {{small|(R)}}<ref name="Waszczak-2015" /> 11.8<ref name="jpldata" /><ref name="lcdb" />{{·}}{{val|12.32|0.54}}<ref name="Veres-2015" />
| abs_magnitude = 11.8
}}
}}


'''1778 Alfvén''', also designated 4506 P–L, is a carbonaceous [[main belt]] [[asteroid]], discovered on September 26, 1960, by [[Cornelis van Houten]], [[Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld]] and [[Tom Gehrels]] at Palomar, in San Diego, United States.<ref name="MPC-Alfven" />
'''1778 Alfvén''', also designated {{mp|4506 P-L}}, is a carbonaceous Themistian [[asteroid]] from the outer region of the [[asteroid belt]], approximately 20 kilometers in diameter.


It was discovered on 26 September 1960, by astronomers [[Cornelis van Houten]], [[Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld]] and [[Tom Gehrels]] at the U.S. [[Palomar Observatory]], in California.<ref name="MPC-Alfven" /> It was later named after Swedish Nobelist [[Hannes Alfvén]].<ref name="springer" />
The asteroid is a member of the [[Themis family]] and has a calculated diameter of about 21 kilometers.<ref name="lcdb" /> It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–3.5&nbsp;[[Astronomical unit|AU]] once every 5 years and 7 months (2,040 days). Its orbit shows an [[orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] of 0.13 and is [[orbital inclination|tilted]] by 2 degrees towards the plane of the [[ecliptic]].<ref name="jpldata" /> It has a [[rotation period]] of 4.82 hours, measured in 2013.<ref name="Chang-2014a" /><ref name="Waszczak-2015" /> The [[geometric albedo|albedo]] of the [[C-type asteroid|C-type]] asteroid is around 0.08, based on assumptions made by the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link.<ref name="lcdb" />


== Orbit and classification ==
The designation ''P–L'' stands for ''Palomar–Leiden'', named after [[Palomar Observatory]] and [[Leiden Observatory]], which collaborated on the fruitful [[Palomar–Leiden survey]] in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's [[Samuel Oschin telescope]] (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Cornelis Johannes van Houten and Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld at Leiden Observatory. The trio are credited with several thousand asteroid discoveries.


The dark [[C-type asteroid]] is a member of the [[Themis family]], a dynamical family of outer-belt asteroids with nearly coplanar [[ecliptic|ecliptical orbits]]. ''Alfvén'' orbits the Sun in the [[Kirkwood gap|outer]] main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.6&nbsp;[[Astronomical unit|AU]] once every 5 years and 7 months (2,038 days). Its orbit has an [[orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] of 0.13 and an [[orbital inclination|inclination]] of 2[[Degree (angle)|°]] with respect to the [[ecliptic]].<ref name="jpldata" />
The asteroid was named after Swedish engineer, physicist and Nobel prize winner, [[Hannes Alfvén]] (1908–1995).<ref name="springer" />


A first [[precovery]] was taken at [[Lowell Observatory]] in 1906, extending the body's [[observation arc]] by 54 years prior to its official discovery observation.<ref name="MPC-Alfven" />
== References ==
{{reflist
|refs=


== Physical characteristics ==
<ref name="lcdb">{{cite web

|title=LCDB Data for (1778) Alfven
=== Rotation period ===
|author=Warner

|display-authors=etal
In February 2013, two rotational [[lightcurve]]s of ''Alfvén'' were obtained from analysis at the [[Palomar Transient Factory]] in California. The lightcurves gave a [[rotation period]] of 4.82 and 4.8050 hours with a brightness variation of 0.40 and 0.36 [[Magnitude (astronomy)|magnitude]], respectively ({{small|[[LCDB quality code|U=3-/2]]}}).<ref name="Chang-2014a" /><ref name="Waszczak-2015" />
|date=2009

|publisher=Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
=== Diameter and albedo ===
|url=http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/GenerateALCDEFPage_Local.php?AstInfo=1778%7CAlfven

|accessdate=November 2015}}</ref>
According to the survey carried out by NASA's [[Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer]] with its subsequent [[NEOWISE]] mission, ''Alfvén'' measures 20.62 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an [[astronomical albedo|albedo]] of 0.095,<ref name="WISE" /><ref name="Masiero-2011" /> while the ''Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link'' assumes an albedo of 0.08 and calculates a diameter of 20.51 kilometers with an [[absolute magnitude]] of 11.8.<ref name="lcdb" />

== Survey designation ==

The [[survey designation]] "P-L" stands for ''Palomar–Leiden'', named after Palomar Observatory and [[Leiden Observatory]], which collaborated on the fruitful [[Palomar–Leiden survey]] in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's [[Samuel Oschin telescope]] (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the [[photographic plate]]s to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden Observatory where [[astrometry]] was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand minor planets.<ref name="MPC-discoverers" />

== Naming ==

This [[minor planet]] was named after Swedish engineer, physicist and Nobel prize winner, [[Hannes Alfvén]] (1908–1995).<ref name="springer" /> The official {{MoMP|1778|naming citation}} was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on 15 June 1974 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 3643}}).<ref name="DoMP-Circular-dates" />

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=


<ref name="jpldata">{{cite web
<ref name="jpldata">{{cite web
|type=2015-10-24 last obs.
|type = 2020-10-11 last obs.
|title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)
|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)
|url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2001778
|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2001778
|publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory
|publisher = [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
|accessdate=November 2015}}</ref>
|access-date = 21 February 2021}}</ref>


<ref name="springer">{{cite book
<ref name="springer">{{cite book
|title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1778) Alfvén
|url=http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1779
|last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
|title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1778) Alfvén
|publisher = [[Springer Berlin Heidelberg]]
|last=Schmadel |first=Lutz D.
|page = 142
|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg
|date = 2007
|page=142
|isbn = 978-3-540-00238-3
|date=2003
|isbn=978-3-540-29925-7
|doi = 10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1779 |chapter = (1778) Alfvén }}</ref>
|accessdate=October 2015}}</ref>


<ref name="MPC-Alfven">{{cite web
<ref name="MPC-Alfven">{{cite web
|title=1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)
|title = 1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)
|work=Minor Planet Center
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=1778
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=1778
|accessdate=November 2015}}</ref>
|access-date = 21 February 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="DoMP-Circular-dates">{{cite book
|title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008)
|chapter = Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs
|last = Schmadel |first=Lutz D.
|publisher = Springer Berlin Heidelberg
|page = 221
|isbn = 978-3-642-01964-7
|doi = 10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-discoverers">{{cite web
|title = Minor Planet Discoverers
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html
|date = 24 April 2016
|access-date = 19 December 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="lcdb">{{cite web
|title = LCDB Data for (1778) Alfvén
|publisher = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
|url = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=1778%7CAlfvén
|access-date = 19 December 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="WISE">{{cite journal
|display-authors = 4
|first1 = A. |last1 = Mainzer
|first2 = T. |last2 = Grav
|first3 = J. |last3 = Masiero
|first4 = E. |last4 = Hand
|first5 = J. |last5 = Bauer
|first6 = D. |last6 = Tholen
|first7 = R. S. |last7 = McMillan
|first8 = T. |last8 = Spahr
|first9 = R. M. |last9 = Cutri
|first10 = E. |last10 = Wright
|first11 = J. |last11 = Watkins
|first12 = W. |last12 = Mo
|first13 = C. |last13 = Maleszewski
|date = November 2011
|title = NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results
|journal = The Astrophysical Journal
|volume = 741
|issue = 2
|page = 25
|bibcode = 2011ApJ...741...90M
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90
|arxiv = 1109.6407}}</ref>


<ref name="Chang-2014a">{{cite journal
<ref name="Chang-2014a">{{cite journal
|display-authors = 6
|display-authors = 4
|author = Chang, Chan-Kao
|first1 = Chan-Kao |last1 = Chang
|author2 = Ip, Wing-Huen
|first2 = Wing-Huen |last2 = Ip |author2-link = Ip Wing-huen
|author3 = Lin, Hsing-Wen
|first3 = Hsing-Wen |last3 = Lin
|author4 = Cheng, Yu-Chi
|first4 = Yu-Chi |last4 = Cheng
|author5 = Ngeow, Chow-Choong
|first5 = Chow-Choong |last5 = Ngeow
|author6 = Yang, Ting-Chang
|first6 = Ting-Chang |last6 = Yang
|author7 = Waszczak, Adam
|first7 = Adam |last7 = Waszczak
|author8 = Kulkarni, Shrinivas R.
|first8 = Shrinivas R. |last8 = Kulkarni
|author9 = Levitan, David
|first9 = David |last9 = Levitan
|author10 = Sesar, Branimir
|first10 = Branimir |last10 = Sesar
|author11 = Laher, Russ
|first11 = Russ |last11 = Laher
|author12 = Surace, Jason
|first12 = Jason |last12 = Surace
|author13 = Prince, Thomas. A.
|first13 = Thomas. A. |last13 = Prince
|date = June 2014
|date = June 2014
|title = 313 New Asteroid Rotation Periods from Palomar Transient Factory Observations
|title = 313 New Asteroid Rotation Periods from Palomar Transient Factory Observations
Line 101: Line 161:
|bibcode = 2014ApJ...788...17C
|bibcode = 2014ApJ...788...17C
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/17
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/17
|access-date= November 2015|arxiv = 1405.1144 }}</ref>
|arxiv = 1405.1144
|access-date= 19 December 2016}}</ref>


<ref name="Waszczak-2015">{{cite journal
<ref name="Waszczak-2015">{{cite journal
|display-authors = 6
|display-authors = 4
|author = Waszczak, Adam
|first1 = Adam |last1 = Waszczak
|author2 = Chang, Chan-Kao
|first2 = Chan-Kao |last2 = Chang
|author3 = Ofek, Eran O.
|first3 = Eran O. |last3 = Ofek
|author4 = Laher, Russ
|first4 = Russ |last4 = Laher
|author5 = Masci, Frank
|first5 = Frank |last5 = Masci
|author6 = Levitan, David
|first6 = David |last6 = Levitan
|author7 = Surace, Jason
|first7 = Jason |last7 = Surace
|author8 = Cheng, Yu-Chi
|first8 = Yu-Chi |last8 = Cheng
|author9 = Ip, Wing-Huen
|first9 = Wing-Huen |last9 = Ip
|author10 = Kinoshita, Daisuke
|first10 = Daisuke |last10 = Kinoshita
|author11 = Helou, George
|first11 = George |last11 = Helou
|author12 = Prince, Thomas A.
|first12 = Thomas A. |last12 = Prince
|author13 = Kulkarni, Shrinivas
|first13 = Shrinivas |last13 = Kulkarni
|date = September 2015
|date = September 2015
|title = Asteroid Light Curves from the Palomar Transient Factory Survey: Rotation Periods and Phase Functions from Sparse Photometry
|title = Asteroid Light Curves from the Palomar Transient Factory Survey: Rotation Periods and Phase Functions from Sparse Photometry
Line 127: Line 188:
|bibcode = 2015AJ....150...75W
|bibcode = 2015AJ....150...75W
|doi = 10.1088/0004-6256/150/3/75
|doi = 10.1088/0004-6256/150/3/75
|access-date= November 2015|arxiv = 1504.04041 }}</ref>
|arxiv = 1504.04041
|access-date= 19 December 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Veres-2015">{{cite journal
|display-authors = 4
|first1 = Peter |last1 = Veres
|first2 = Robert |last2 = Jedicke
|first3 = Alan |last3 = Fitzsimmons
|first4 = Larry |last4 = Denneau
|first5 = Mikael |last5 = Granvik
|first6 = Bryce |last6 = Bolin
|first7 = Serge |last7 = Chastel
|first8 = Richard J. |last8 = Wainscoat
|first9 = William S. |last9 = Burgett
|first10 = Kenneth C. |last10 = Chambers
|first11 = Heather |last11 = Flewelling
|first12 = Nick |last12 = Kaiser
|first13 = Eugen A. |last13 = Magnier
|first14 = Jeff S. |last14 = Morgan
|first15 = Paul A. |last15 = Price
|first16 = John L. |last16 = Tonry
|first17 = Christopher |last17 = Waters
|date = November 2015
|title = Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results
|url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2015Icar..261...34V
|journal = Icarus
|volume = 261
|pages = 34–47
|bibcode = 2015Icar..261...34V
|doi = 10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007
|arxiv = 1506.00762
|access-date= 19 December 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Masiero-2011">{{cite journal
|display-authors = 4
|first1 = Joseph R. |last1 = Masiero
|first2 = A. K. |last2 = Mainzer
|first3 = T. |last3 = Grav
|first4 = J. M. |last4 = Bauer
|first5 = R. M. |last5 = Cutri
|first6 = J. |last6 = Dailey
|first7 = P. R. M. |last7 = Eisenhardt
|first8 = R. S. |last8 = McMillan
|first9 = T. B. |last9 = Spahr
|first10 = M. F. |last10 = Skrutskie
|first11 = D. |last11 = Tholen
|first12 = R. G. |last12 = Walker
|first13 = E. L. |last13 = Wright
|first14 = E. |last14 = DeBaun
|first15 = D. |last15 = Elsbury
|first16 = T. IV |last16 = Gautier
|first17 = S. |last17 = Gomillion
|first18 = A. |last18 = Wilkins
|date = November 2011
|title = Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters
|url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2011ApJ...741...68M
|journal = The Astrophysical Journal
|volume = 741
|issue = 2
|page = 20
|bibcode = 2011ApJ...741...68M
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68
|arxiv = 1109.4096
|access-date= 20 December 2016}}</ref>


}} <!-- end of reflist -->
}} <!-- end of reflist -->


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/lcdbsummaryquery.php Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)], query form ([http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html info])
* [http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/lcdbsummaryquery.php Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)], query form ([http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216050541/http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html |date=16 December 2017 }})
* [https://books.google.se/books?id=aeAg1X7afOoC&pg Dictionary of Minor Planet Names], Google books
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=aeAg1X7afOoC&pg Dictionary of Minor Planet Names], Google books
* [http://obswww.unige.ch/~behrend/page_cou.html Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR] – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
* [http://obswww.unige.ch/~behrend/page_cou.html Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR] – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
* [http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs000001.html Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000)] – Minor Planet Center
* [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs000001.html Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000)] – Minor Planet Center
* {{AstDys|1778}}
* {{JPL small body|title=1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)|id=2001778}}
* {{JPL small body}}


{{MinorPlanets Navigator|1777 Gehrels|1779 Paraná}}
{{Minor planets navigator |1777 Gehrels |number=1778 |1779 Paraná}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{MinorPlanets_Footer}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfven}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfven}}
[[Category:Main-belt asteroids|001778]]
[[Category:Themis asteroids|001778]]
[[Category:Numbered asteroids|001778]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld]]
[[Category:Asteroids named for people]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Cornelis Johannes van Houten]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Cornelis Johannes van Houten]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Tom Gehrels]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Tom Gehrels]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1960]]
[[Category:Discoveries by the Palomar–Leiden survey|4506]]
[[Category:Themistian asteroids|001778]]
[[Category:Named minor planets]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1960|19600926]]


{{Beltasteroid-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:26, 25 December 2023

1778 Alfvén
Discovery[1]
Discovered byC. J. van Houten
I. van Houten-G.
Tom Gehrels
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date26 September 1960
Designations
(1778) Alfvén
Named after
Hannes Alfvén (physicist)[2]
4506 P-L · 1936 HK
1952 DD1 · 1958 FB
1959 NN
main-belt · Themis[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 May 2021 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc66.12 yr (24,152 days) (JPL)
113.65 yr (41,511 days) (MPC)[4]
Aphelion3.5505 AU
Perihelion2.7420 AU
3.1462 AU
Eccentricity0.1285
5.58 yr (2,038 days)
358.82°
0° 10m 35.4s / day
Inclination2.4742°
106.24°
136.41°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions20.51 km (calculated)[3]
20.623±0.240 km[5][6]
4.8050±0.0027 h[7]
4.82±0.05 h[8]
0.08 (assumed)[3]
0.095±0.007[5][6]
C[3]
11.59±0.15 (R)[8] · 11.6[5] · 11.725±0.003 (R)[7] 11.8[1][3] · 12.32±0.54[9]

1778 Alfvén, also designated 4506 P-L, is a carbonaceous Themistian asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 20 kilometers in diameter.

It was discovered on 26 September 1960, by astronomers Cornelis van Houten, Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld and Tom Gehrels at the U.S. Palomar Observatory, in California.[4] It was later named after Swedish Nobelist Hannes Alfvén.[2]

Orbit and classification

[edit]

The dark C-type asteroid is a member of the Themis family, a dynamical family of outer-belt asteroids with nearly coplanar ecliptical orbits. Alfvén orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.6 AU once every 5 years and 7 months (2,038 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

A first precovery was taken at Lowell Observatory in 1906, extending the body's observation arc by 54 years prior to its official discovery observation.[4]

Physical characteristics

[edit]

Rotation period

[edit]

In February 2013, two rotational lightcurves of Alfvén were obtained from analysis at the Palomar Transient Factory in California. The lightcurves gave a rotation period of 4.82 and 4.8050 hours with a brightness variation of 0.40 and 0.36 magnitude, respectively (U=3-/2).[8][7]

Diameter and albedo

[edit]

According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Alfvén measures 20.62 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.095,[5][6] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.08 and calculates a diameter of 20.51 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 11.8.[3]

Survey designation

[edit]

The survey designation "P-L" stands for Palomar–Leiden, named after Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory, which collaborated on the fruitful Palomar–Leiden survey in the 1960s. Gehrels used Palomar's Samuel Oschin telescope (also known as the 48-inch Schmidt Telescope), and shipped the photographic plates to Ingrid and Cornelis van Houten at Leiden Observatory where astrometry was carried out. The trio are credited with the discovery of several thousand minor planets.[10]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after Swedish engineer, physicist and Nobel prize winner, Hannes Alfvén (1908–1995).[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 15 June 1974 (M.P.C. 3643).[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)" (2020-10-11 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1778) Alfvén". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1778) Alfvén. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 142. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1779. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (1778) Alfvén". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "1778 Alfven (4506 P-L)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90.
  6. ^ a b c Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; 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. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Waszczak, Adam; Chang, Chan-Kao; Ofek, Eran O.; Laher, Russ; et al. (September 2015). "Asteroid Light Curves from the Palomar Transient Factory Survey: Rotation Periods and Phase Functions from Sparse Photometry". The Astronomical Journal. 150 (3): 35. arXiv:1504.04041. Bibcode:2015AJ....150...75W. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/150/3/75. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Chang, Chan-Kao; Ip, Wing-Huen; Lin, Hsing-Wen; Cheng, Yu-Chi; et al. (June 2014). "313 New Asteroid Rotation Periods from Palomar Transient Factory Observations". The Astrophysical Journal. 788 (1): 21. arXiv:1405.1144. Bibcode:2014ApJ...788...17C. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/17. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  9. ^ Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Minor Planet Discoverers". Minor Planet Center. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  11. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.
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