Jump to content

1637 Swings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1637 Swings
Shape model of Swings from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byJ. Hunaerts
Discovery siteUccle Obs.
Discovery date28 August 1936
Designations
(1637) Swings
Named after
Pol Swings (astrophysicist)[2]
1936 QO · 1907 YT
1934 FL · 1934 FP
1936 SD · 1939 FU
1950 GA
main-belt · (outer)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc109.78 yr (40,096 days)
Aphelion3.2088 AU
Perihelion2.9356 AU
3.0722 AU
Eccentricity0.0445
5.38 yr (1,967 days)
123.47°
0° 10m 58.8s / day
Inclination14.068°
21.288°
236.17°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions45.15 km (IRAS)[3]
52.994±0.428 km[4]
0.042±0.004[4]
10.4[1]

1637 Swings, provisional designation 1936 QO, is a dark asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 50 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by Joseph Hunaerts in 1936, it was named after Belgian astronomer Pol Swings.

Discovery

[edit]

Swings was discovered on 28 August 1936, by Belgian astronomer Joseph Hunaerts at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Uccle, Belgium.[5] In the following month, it was independently discovered by astronomer Cyril Jackson at Johannesburg Observatory in South Africa.[2]

Orbit and classification

[edit]

The asteroid orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.9–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 5 months (1,967 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.04 and an inclination of 14° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] In 1907, Swings was first identified as 1907 YT at Heidelberg Observatory. However, the body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Uccle in 1936.[5]

Physical characteristics

[edit]

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Swings' surface has an albedo of 0.042, and measures 45.15 and 52.99 kilometers in diameter, respectively.[3][4] It has an absolute magnitude of 10.4.[1]

As of 2017, the body's spectral type, rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1]

Naming

[edit]

This minor planet was named after Pol Swings (1906–1983), a Belgian astrophysicist, astronomer and president of the International Astronomical Union during 1964–1967, who significantly contributed to the understanding of the physics of comets and their spectra.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 (M.P.C. 3932).[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1637 Swings (1936 QO)" (2017-01-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1637) Swings". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1637) Swings. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 130. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1638. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System – IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b "1637 Swings (1936 QO)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  6. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2009). "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.
[edit]