728 Leonisis facts for kids
728 Leonisis is a small space rock, also known as an asteroid. It belongs to a group of asteroids called the Flora family. This asteroid was discovered by an astronomer named Johann Palisa in 1912 in Vienna, a city in Austria. When it was first found, it was given a temporary name: 1912 NU.
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discoverer | J. Palisa |
| Discovery date | February 16, 1912 |
| Alternate designations |
1912 NU; A907 UE; 1941 WR; 1968 UT |
| Category | Main belt (Flora family) |
| Orbital elements | |
|
|
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| Eccentricity (e) | 0.0873 |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 337.2 Gm (2.254 AU) |
| Perihelion (q) | 307.7 Gm (2.057 AU) |
| Aphelion (Q) | 366.7 Gm (2.451 AU) |
| Orbital period (P) | 1236.0 d (3.38 a) |
| Mean orbital speed | 19.80 km/s |
| Inclination (i) | 4.258° |
| Longitude of the ascending node (Ω) |
82.701° |
| Argument of perihelion (ω) |
55.194° |
| Mean anomaly (M) | 232.528° |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | unknown |
| Mass | unknown |
| Density | unknown |
| Surface gravity | unknown |
| Escape velocity | unknown |
| Rotation period | ~0.2 d (~5 h) |
| Spectral class | A or Ld |
| Absolute magnitude | 12.8 |
| Albedo (geometric) | unknown |
| Mean surface temperature |
|
Contents
What is an Asteroid?
An asteroid is a rocky object that orbits the Sun. They are much smaller than planets. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt. This belt is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
The Flora Family Asteroids
The Flora family is a large group of asteroids. They all share similar orbits around the Sun. This means they likely came from the same larger asteroid that broke apart long ago. 728 Leonisis is considered part of this family.
How Was Leonisis Discovered?
728 Leonisis was discovered by Johann Palisa. He was an Austrian astronomer. Palisa worked at the Vienna Observatory. He found many asteroids during his career. His discovery of Leonisis happened on February 16, 1912.
What is a Spectral Class?
Astronomers study asteroids to learn what they are made of. They do this by looking at their "spectral class." This is like a fingerprint of the asteroid's surface. It tells scientists about the types of rocks and minerals present.
Leonisis's Unusual Spectrum
For 728 Leonisis, scientists are not completely sure about its spectral class. It has been classified as either an A-type or an L-type asteroid. These types are quite rare. They are different from the more common S-type asteroids.
Why is the Classification Important?
A-type and L-type asteroids have "stony" surfaces. However, they have unique features in their light. This unusual spectrum makes scientists wonder. It even makes them question if Leonisis truly belongs to the Flora family. Usually, asteroids in the same family have similar compositions.
See also
- Asteroid belt
- Johann Palisa
- Flora family
- A-type asteroid
- L-type asteroid
In Spanish: (728) Leonisis para niños
