1998 Titius facts for kids
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | A. Bohrmann |
| Discovery site | Heidelberg Obs. |
| Discovery date | 24 February 1938 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | (1998) Titius |
|
Named after
|
Johann Titius (astronomer) |
| 1938 DX1 · 1966 TF | |
| main-belt · (inner) | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 79.27 yr (28,955 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.5750 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.2643 AU |
| 2.4196 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0642 |
| 3.76 yr (1,375 days) | |
| 335.11° | |
|
Mean motion
|
0° 15m 42.84s / day |
| Inclination | 7.6265° |
| 351.78° | |
| 246.70° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 10.79 km (calculated) 14.24±0.17 km 14.782±0.081 km 15.98±0.35 km |
| 6.13±0.01 h | |
| 0.093±0.004 0.1066±0.0037 0.126±0.031 0.20 (assumed) |
|
| SMASS = Xc M · C · X |
|
| 12.10 · 12.15±0.22 · 12.2 | |
1998 Titius is a space rock, or asteroid, found in the inner part of the asteroid belt. It is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) wide. Scientists think it is made of both metal and carbon.
This asteroid was found on February 24, 1938, by a German astronomer named Alfred Bohrmann. He discovered it at the Heidelberg Observatory in Germany. On the same night, it was also seen from the Finnish Turku Observatory. The asteroid was later named after a famous astronomer, Johann Daniel Titius.
Contents
Where Does Titius Orbit the Sun?
Titius travels around the Sun in the asteroid belt, which is between Mars and Jupiter. It is in the "inner" part of this belt. Its path is about 2.3 to 2.6 AU from the Sun. One AU is the distance from Earth to the Sun.
It takes Titius about 3 years and 9 months (1,375 days) to complete one trip around the Sun. Its orbit is slightly tilted, about 8 degrees, compared to Earth's path. Titius also has a special connection with Mars, called an orbital resonance. This means their orbits are linked in a specific way.
What Are Titius's Physical Features?
How Big is Titius and How Reflective Is It?
Scientists have used special satellites like Japan's Akari and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) to study Titius. These studies show that Titius is between 14.2 and 16.0 kilometers (about 9 to 10 miles) wide.
They also measured its albedo. Albedo tells us how much sunlight an object reflects. Titius has an albedo between 0.093 and 0.126. This means it reflects only a small amount of sunlight, making it quite dark. Another group of scientists estimated its size to be about 10.8 kilometers, assuming a slightly higher albedo.
What Is Titius Made Of?
Scientists classify asteroids based on what they are made of. Titius is an Xc-type asteroid. This means it has features of both metallic X-type and carbon-rich C-type asteroids.
Both X-type and C-type asteroids are darker than S-type asteroids, which are made of stone. S-type asteroids are also common in the inner asteroid belt. WISE also classifies Titius as an M-type asteroid, which are known to be rich in metals.
How Fast Does Titius Spin?
Astronomers can figure out how fast an asteroid spins by watching its brightness change over time. This is called a lightcurve. In March 2002, astronomer Robert Stephens observed Titius.
His studies showed that Titius spins once every 6.13 hours. As it spins, its brightness changes slightly. This change helps scientists understand its shape and how it rotates.
Who Was Titius Named After?
This asteroid is named after Johann Daniel Titius (1729–1796). He was a German astronomer. Titius is famous for creating the Titius-Bode law. This law describes a pattern in the distances of planets from the Sun. It suggests that each planet is roughly twice as far from the Sun as the one before it.
Johann Daniel Titius is also honored with a crater on the Moon named after him. The official naming of the asteroid was announced on October 15, 1977.
See also
In Spanish: (1998) Titius para niños
