Melpomeneocculted thestar SAO 114159 on 11 December 1978. A possible Melpomeneansatellite with a diameter of at least 37 km was detected. The satellite candidate received aprovisional designationS/1978 (18) 1.[14] In 1988 a search for satellites or dust orbiting this asteroid was performed using theUH88 telescope at theMauna Kea Observatories, but the effort came up empty.[15] Melpomene was observed with theHubble Space Telescope in 1993. It was able to resolve the asteroid's slightly elongated shape, but no satellites were detected.[5]
Melpomene has been studied byradar.[16]Photometric observations during 2012 provided arotation period of11.571±0.001 h with a brightness variation of0.34±0.02 in magnitude, which is consistent with previous studies.[17] It has amean diameter of141±2 km.[7][3]
^Gradie, J.; Flynn, L. (March 1988), "A Search for Satellites and Dust Belts Around Asteroids: Negative Results",Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, pp. 405–406,Bibcode:1988LPI....19..405G.
^Pilcher, Frederick (January 2013). "Lightcurves and Derived Rotation Periods for 18 Melpomene 38 Leda, and 465 Alekto".Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers.40 (1): 33.Bibcode:2013MPBu...40...33P.
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