| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | J. B. Gibson |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 28 September 1982 |
| Designations | |
| (100000) Astronautica | |
Named after | 50th anniv.Space Age[1][2] (Latin:star sailor) |
| 1982 SH1 · 2002 CW115 | |
| main-belt · (inner)[3] Hungaria[4][5] | |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 35.59yr (12,999 d) |
| Aphelion | 2.0707AU |
| Perihelion | 1.7388 AU |
| 1.9048 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0871 |
| 2.63 yr (960 d) | |
| 309.12° | |
| 0° 22m 29.64s / day | |
| Inclination | 21.185° |
| 186.56° | |
| 199.64° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.7440 AU (290LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 0.94 km(est. at0.35)[6] | |
| E(family based)[7] | |
| 16.9[1][3] | |
100000 Astronautica (provisional designation1982 SH1) is a sub-kilometerasteroid and member of theHungaria family from the innermost region of theasteroid belt, approximately 940 meters (0.58 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 28 September 1982, by American astronomerJames Gibson atPalomar Observatory, California, United States. The likely brightE-type asteroid was namedAstronautica, the Latin word for "star sailor", on the 50th anniversary of theSpace Age.[1]
Astronautica is a core member of theHungaria family (003),[4][5] anasteroid family and dynamical group, which forms the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in theSolar System. It orbits the Sun in theinner asteroid belt at a distance of 1.7–2.1 AU once every 2 years and 8 months (960 days;semi-major axis of 1.9 AU). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.09 and aninclination of 21° with respect to theecliptic.[3] The body'sobservation arc begins with its discovery observation atPalomar Observatory in September 1982.[1]
Thisminor planet marked the milestone of the 100,000th numbered minor planet in October 2005.[8] It was named by theInternational Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature to recognize the 50th anniversary of the start of theSpace Age, as marked by the launch of the SovietSputnik spacecraft into orbit on 4 October 1957. The officialnaming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 26 September 2007 (M.P.C. 60731).[9] The number 100,000 is significant because it marks the altitude in meters where outer space begins, as delineated by theKármán line established by theFédération Aéronautique Internationale. The name "Astronautica" is Latin for "star sailor".[2][8]
Most members of theHungaria family areE-type asteroids, which means they have extremely brightenstatite surfaces andalbedos typically around 0.35.[7] Based on the body's estimated albedo and itsabsolute magnitude of 16.9,[1][3] Astronautica measures approximately 940 meters (0.58 miles) in diameter.[6] As of 2018, no rotationallightcurve of Astronautica has been obtained fromphotometric observations. The body'srotation period,pole and shape remain unknown.[3][10]
