 A three-dimensional model of 201 Penelope based on its light curve. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Johann Palisa |
| Discovery date | 7 August 1879 |
| Designations | |
| (201) Penelope | |
| Pronunciation | /pɪˈnɛləpiː/[1] |
Named after | Penelópē |
| A879 PA; 1869 GA | |
| Main belt | |
| Adjectives | Penelopean/pɪˈnɛloʊˈpiːən/[1] |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 21 January 2022 (JD 2457600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 142.58 yr (52,077 d)[3] |
| Aphelion | 3.160 AU (472.710 Gm)[3] |
| Perihelion | 2.199 AU (329.009 Gm)[4][3] |
| 2.680 AU (400.859 Gm)[4][3] | |
| Eccentricity | 0.17924[4][3] |
| 4.39 yr (1,602.14 d)[3] | |
Averageorbital speed | 18.19 km/s |
| 169.01173°[4] | |
| 0° 13m 28.917s / day[4] | |
| Inclination | 5.75625°[4][3] |
| 156.91554°[4] | |
| 180.90559°[4] | |
| Jupiter MOID | 2.23013 AU (333.623 Gm)[3] |
| TJupiter | 3.347[3] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 68.39±3.5 km[2] 87.72 km[5] |
| 3.7474 h (0.15614 d)[3] | |
| 0.1604±0.018[2] 0.0881±0.0187[5] | |
201 Penelope is a largemain beltasteroid that was discovered by Austrian astronomerJohann Palisa on August 7, 1879, inPola. The asteroid is named afterPenelope, the wife ofOdysseus inHomer'sThe Odyssey. It is orbiting theSun at a distance of2.68 AU with aneccentricity (ovalness) of 0.18 and aperiod of 4.381 years. Theorbital plane is tilted at an angle of 5.8° to theplane of the ecliptic.[2]
Based upon the spectra of this object, it is classified as aM-type asteroid, indicating it may be metallic in composition.[5] It may be the remnant of the core of a larger, differentiated asteroid. Near infrared absorption features indicate the presence of variable amounts of low-iron, low-calciumorthopyroxenes on the surface. Trace amounts of water is detected with amass fraction of about 0.13–0.15 wt%.[6] It has an estimated size of around 88 km.[5] With a rotation period of 3.74 hours, it is the fastest rotating asteroid larger than 50 km in diameter.[2]
