.png) Lightcurve-based 3D-model ofBelisana | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | J. Palisa |
| Discovery site | Austrian Naval Obs. |
| Discovery date | 6 November 1877 |
| Designations | |
| (178) Belisana | |
| Pronunciation | /bɛˈlɪsənə/ |
Named after | Bēlēsama[2] (Celtic mythology) |
| A877 VB; 1899 LE; 1904 UA;1935 UA1 | |
| main-belt[1][3] · (inner) background[4][5] | |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 132.36yr (48,345 d) |
| Aphelion | 2.5667AU |
| Perihelion | 2.3536 AU |
| 2.4601 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0433 |
| 3.86 yr (1,409 d) | |
| 272.93° | |
| 0° 15m 19.44s / day | |
| Inclination | 1.8950° |
| 51.109° | |
| 212.67° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 35.50 km(derived)[6] 35.81±0.9 km[7] 38.26±1.12 km[8] 42.09±11.05 km[9] | |
| 12.31±0.07 h[10] 12.32±0.05 h[10] 12.321±0.003 h[11] 12.323±0.002 h[12] 24.6510±0.0003 h[13] | |
| 0.2026(derived)[6] 0.214±0.016[8] 0.22±0.09[9] 0.2438±0.013[7] | |
| Tholen =S[3] SMASS =S[3] · S[6] B–V = 0.904[3] U–B = 0.486[3] | |
| 9.38[7][8] 9.4[3] 9.52[9] 9.6[6][11][14] 9.66±0.79[15] | |
178 Belisana is a stony backgroundasteroid from the inner regions of theasteroid belt, approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 6 November 1877, by Austrian astronomerJohann Palisa at theAustrian Naval Observatory in today's Croatia.[1] TheS-type asteroid has arotation period of 12.32 hours and a rather spherical shape.[6] It was named after the Celtic goddessBelisama (Belisana).[2]
Belisana is a non-family asteroid from the main belt'sbackground population.[4][5] It orbits the Sun in theinner main-belt at a distance of 2.4–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,409 days;semi-major axis of 2.46 AU). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.04 and aninclination of 2° with respect to theecliptic.[3]
Belisana has been characterized as a common, stonyS-type asteroid in both theTholen andSMASS classification.[3]
Photometric observations of this asteroid from multiple observatories during 2007 gave alight curve with a period of 12.321 ± 0.002 hours and a brightness variation of 0.10 ± 0.03 inmagnitude. This is in agreement with a study performed in 1992. However, it is possible that the light curve may have a period of 24.6510 ± 0.0003 hours; it will require further study to exclude this solution.[13]
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical SatelliteIRAS, the JapaneseAkari satellite and theNEOWISE mission of NASA'sWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer,Belisana measures between 35.81 and 42.09 kilometers in diameter and its surface has analbedo between 0.214 and 0.2438.[7][8][9]
TheCollaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.2026 and a diameter of 35.50 kilometers based on anabsolute magnitude of 9.6.[6]
Thisminor planet was named after the goddessBelisama (or Belisana) fromCeltic mythology, meaning "queen of heaven", the most warlike goddess among BritishCelts, and equivalent to the goddesses Athene or Minerva. The official naming citation was mentioned inThe Names of the Minor Planets byPaul Herget in 1955 (H 22).[2]
