| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | K. Reinmuth |
| Discovery site | Heidelberg Obs. |
| Discovery date | 4 September 1951 |
| Designations | |
| (2537) Gilmore | |
Named after | Alan C. Gilmore Pamela M. Kilmartin (New Zealand astronomers)[2] |
| 1951 RL · 1977 QP2 | |
| main-belt · Eunomia[3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 65.47 yr (23,912 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.1130AU |
| Perihelion | 2.1988 AU |
| 2.6559 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1721 |
| 4.33yr (1,581 days) | |
| 81.217° | |
| 0° 13m 39.72s / day | |
| Inclination | 12.937° |
| 334.99° | |
| 18.786° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 6.68 km(calculated)[3] 7.221±0.118 km[4][5] |
| 4.230±0.020h[6] 4.2302±0.0399 h[7] | |
| 0.21(assumed)[3] 0.309±0.055[4][5] | |
| S[3] | |
| 12.6[4] · 12.650±0.120(R)[6] · 12.7[1] · 12.737±0.002(R)[7] · 13.19[3] | |
2537 Gilmore, provisional designation1951 RL, is a Eunomiaasteroid from the middle region of theasteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 September 1951, by German astronomerKarl Reinmuth atHeidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.[8] It was named after New Zealand astronomer coupleAlan C. Gilmore andPamela M. Kilmartin
Gilmore is a member of theEunomia family, a large group ofS-type asteroids and the most prominent family in the intermediate main-belt. It orbits the Sun in thecentral main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 4 months (1,581 days). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.17 and aninclination of 13° with respect to theecliptic.[1] As noprecoveries were taken, the body'sobservation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Heidelberg in 1951.[8]
According to the survey carried out by theNEOWISE mission of NASA'sWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer,Gilmore measures 7.2 kilometers in diameter and its surface has analbedo of 0.309,[4] while theCollaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.21 and calculates a diameter of 6.7 kilometers with anabsolute magnitude of 13.19.[3]
From January to February 2014, two rotationallightcurves ofGilmore were obtained from photometric observations at thePalomar Transient Factory, California. The lightcurves gave arotation period of4.230 and4.2302 hours with a brightness variation of 0.34 and 0.35 inmagnitude, respectively (U=2/2).[6][7]
Thisminor planet was named in honor of New Zealand astronomer coupleAlan C. Gilmore and his wife, Pamela (néeKilmartin), two very productive observers of comets and minor planet in the Southern Hemisphere. They research at theMount John University Observatory since 1980, and are members of theRoyal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.[2]
The official naming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 24 July 1983 (M.P.C. 8064),[9] based on a proposal by Conrad Bardwell (see1615 Bardwell) andBrian G. Marsden. Pamela Gilmore is also honored by the minor planet3907 Kilmartin.[2]
