.png) Alightcurve-based 3D-model ofOtero | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | K. Reinmuth |
| Discovery site | Heidelberg Obs. |
| Discovery date | 11 January 1929 |
| Designations | |
| (1126) Otero | |
Named after | Carolina Otero (Spanish courtesan)[2] |
| 1929 AC · 1926 GD 1948 RN1 · 1949 YO | |
| main-belt · Flora[3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 90.71 yr (33,133 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.6052AU |
| Perihelion | 1.9394 AU |
| 2.2723 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1465 |
| 3.43yr (1,251 days) | |
| 291.09° | |
| 0° 17m 15.72s / day | |
| Inclination | 6.5045° |
| 1.0892° | |
| 136.08° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 8.87±1.56 km[4] 10.974±0.892 km[5] 11.74 km(derived)[3] |
| 3.648±0.002h[6] 3.64808±0.00014 h[a] | |
| 0.1994(derived)[3] 0.37±0.13[4] 0.399±0.320[5] | |
| SMASS =A[1] · A[3] | |
| 11.41[5] · 11.57±0.05(R)[a] · 11.9[1] · 12.098±0.071[3][7] · 12.10[4] | |
1126 Otero, provisional designation1929 AC, is a rare-type Florianasteroid from the inner regions of theasteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 January 1929, by German astronomerKarl Reinmuth atHeidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany.[8] It was named after Spanish courtesanCarolina Otero.[2]
Otero is a member of theFlora family, one of the largest families of stony asteroids in the main belt. It orbits the Sun in theinner main-belt at a distance of 1.9–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,251 days). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.15 and aninclination of 7° with respect to theecliptic.[1] It was first identified as1926 GD atUccle/Heidelberg in 1926, extending the asteroid'sobservation arc by 3 years prior to its official discovery at Heidelberg.[8]
In theSMASS classification,Otero is a rareA-type asteroid.[1]
Two rotationallightcurve ofOtero were obtained from photometric observations by astronomersPetr Pravec andRobert Stepens in February 2008. Lightcurve analysis gave a concurring, well-definedrotation period of 3.648 hours with a brightness variation of 0.69 and 0.70magnitude, respectively (U=3/3).[6][a]
According to the survey carried out by NASA'sWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequentNEOWISE mission,Otero measures 8.87 and 10.974 kilometers in diameter and its surface has analbedo of 0.37 and 0.399, respectively.[4][5] TheCollaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.1994 and a diameter of 11.74 kilometers with anabsolute magnitude of 12.098 from Petr Pravec's revised WISE-data.[3][7]
Thisminor planet was named by the discoverer for Galician-born Spanish courtesan, dancer and actressCarolina Otero (1868–1965), who was also known as "La Belle Otero". During theBelle Époque, she was the most sought after woman in all of Europe and led an excessive life thanks to her numerous rich and famous lovers. The official naming citation was first published by theAstronomical Calculation Institute (RI 803).[2]
Otero was observed byESA's missionHera from a distance of 2.8 millions km on May 11, 2025 as the spacecraft was heading towardDidymos.[9]
