_Thomsen.png) Shape model ofThomsen from itslightcurve | |
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | L. Oterma |
| Discovery site | Turku Obs. |
| Discovery date | 8 September 1942 |
| Designations | |
| (2064) Thomsen | |
Named after | Ivan Leslie Thomsen (New Zealand astronomer)[2] |
| 1942 RQ · 1958 RO 1974 OK · 1977 FE3 1977 KA · A913 QB | |
| Mars-crosser [1][3] | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 74.50 yr (27,211 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.8967AU |
| Perihelion | 1.4600 AU |
| 2.1783 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3298 |
| 3.22yr (1,174 days) | |
| 142.30° | |
| 0° 18m 23.76s / day | |
| Inclination | 5.6946° |
| 302.16° | |
| 2.7479° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.4446 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 8.09±0.12 km[4] 13.59 km(derived)[5] 13.61±1.6 km(IRAS:2)[6] | |
| 4.2267±0.0001h[7] 4.233 h[8] 4.244023±0.000001 h[9] 4.253±0.005 h[10] | |
| 0.0549±0.015(IRAS:2)[6] 0.0644(derived)[5] 0.162±0.006[4] | |
| SMASS =S[1] · S [5][11][12] B–V = 0.887[1] U–B = 0.524[1] | |
| 12.6[1] · 12.93[5][8] · 13.10[4][6][12] · 13.44±0.31[11] | |
2064 Thomsen (prov. designation:1942 RQ) is a stonyasteroid andMars-crosser on an eccentric orbit, that measures approximately 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) in diameter. The asteroid was discovered by Finnish astronomerLiisi Oterma atTurku Observatory, Finland, on 8 September 1942.[3] It was named after New Zealand astronomerIvan Leslie Thomsen
TheS-type asteroid orbits the Sun in theinner main-belt at a distance of 1.5–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,174 days). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.33 and aninclination of 6° with respect to theecliptic.[1]
Thisminor planet was named in memory of New Zealand astronomer Ivan Leslie Thomsen (1910–1969), director of theCarter Observatory, Wellington, from 1945 until he was appointed director of theMount John University Observatory only two months before his death. He was an enthusiastic coordinator of New Zealand's astronomy and his efforts eventually led to the minor-planet observing program with the Carter Observatory 41-cm reflector. It was the 1977rediscovery at the Carter Observatory that allowed this minor planet to be numbered. The officialnaming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 1 August 1978 (M.P.C. 4421).[2][13]
Four rotationallightcurves gave a well-definedrotation period of 4.233 hours with a brightness variation of 0.62–0.69magnitude (U=3/3/ .a./3)[7][8][9][10] and analbedo of 0.055 and 0.16, as measured by theIRAS andAkari surveys, respectively.[4][6]
