| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | H. Debehogne |
| Discovery site | La Silla Obs. |
| Discovery date | 19 January 1988 |
| Designations | |
| (4608) Wodehouse | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwʊdhaʊs/ |
Named after | P. G. Wodehouse[2] (English author) |
| 1988 BW3 · 1954 SG 1978 GO4 · 1983 TD | |
| main-belt · (inner)[3] background[4] · Cerestrojan[5] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 65.14 yr (23,794 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.8779AU |
| Perihelion | 1.8460 AU |
| 2.3619 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.2184 |
| 3.63yr (1,326 days) | |
| 103.56° | |
| 0° 16m 17.4s / day | |
| Inclination | 7.4477° |
| 203.17° | |
| 202.65° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 7.629±0.069 km[6] 7.912±0.161 km[7] 8.18 km(calculated)[3] |
| 13.944±0.002h[a] 13.95±0.01 h[8] | |
| 0.1958±0.0233[7] 0.20(assumed)[3] 0.210±0.018[6] | |
| L[9] · C(SDSS-MFB)[3] | |
| 12.8[1][3] · 12.9[7] · 13.24±0.20[9] | |
4608 Wodehouse, provisional designation1988 BW3, is a backgroundasteroid and suspectedtrojan ofCeres from the inner regions of theasteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 January 1988, by Belgian astronomerHenri Debehogne at ESO'sLa Silla Observatory in northern Chile. The asteroid was named after English writerP. G. Wodehouse.[2]
Wodehouse is a non-family asteroid from the main belt'sbackground population.[4] It orbits the Sun in theinner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,326 days). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.22 and aninclination of 7° with respect to theecliptic.[1] The body'sobservation arc begins with aprecovery taken atPalomar Observatory in January 1952, or 36 years prior to its official discovery observation at La Silla.[2]
Long-term numerical integrations suggest, thatWodehouse is atrojan ofCeres, staying a 1:1orbital resonance with the onlydwarf planet of the asteroid belt. Other suspected co-orbitals are the asteroids855 Newcombia,1372 Haremari and8877 Rentaro.[5]
Wodehouse is classified as a rareL-type asteroid byPan-STARRS photometric survey.[9] It has also been characterized as a common, carbonaceousC-type asteroid bySDSS-MFB (Masi Foglia Bus).[3]
In December 2005, two rotationallightcurves ofWodehouse was obtained from photometric observations byDonald Pray andPetr Pravec in collaboration with several other observers. Lightcurve analysis gave arotation period of 13.944 and 13.95 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.08 and 0.10magnitude, respectively (U=3/2).[8][a] A low brightness variation typically indicates, that the body has a spherical rather than elongated shape.
According to the survey carried out by theNEOWISE mission of NASA'sWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer,Wodehouse measures between 7.629 and 7.912 kilometers in diameter and its surface has analbedo between 0.1958 and 0.210.[6][7]
TheCollaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 8.18 kilometers based on anabsolute magnitude of 12.8.[3]
Thisminor planet was named after English writer and humoristP. G. Wodehouse (Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse; 1881–1975). He created several fictional characters who became familiar to the public over the years, including the jolly gentleman of leisureBertie Wooster and his sagacious valet,Jeeves. The body's name was suggested by Belgian astronomerJean Meeus.[2]
The official naming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 13 April 2006 (M.P.C. 56611).[10]
