2420 Čiurlionis, provisionally designated 1975 TN, is a stony Eunomian asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 October 1975, by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, on the Crimean peninsula, and later named after Lithuanian painter and composer Mikalojus Čiurlionis.[2][9]

2420 Čiurlionis
Discovery [1]
Discovered byN. Chernykh
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Obs.
Discovery date3 October 1975
Designations
(2420) Čiurlionis
Named after
Mikalojus Čiurlionis
(painter and composer)[2]
1975 TN · 1979 QF
main-belt · Eunomia[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc41.42 yr (15,129 days)
Aphelion2.9008 AU
Perihelion2.2190 AU
2.5599 AU
Eccentricity0.1332
4.10 yr (1,496 days)
56.325°
0° 14m 26.16s / day
Inclination14.611°
205.64°
197.83°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions8.444±0.198 km[4][5]
10.06 km (calculated)[3]
12.84 h[6]
15.760±0.002 h[7]
0.21 (assumed)[3]
0.327±0.086[4][5]
S[3]
12.2[4] · 12.28±0.28[8] · 12.3[1][3]

Orbit and classification

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Čiurlionis is a member of the Eunomia family, a large group of S-type asteroids and the most prominent family in the intermediate main-belt. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.2–2.9 AU once every 4 years and 1 month (1,496 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 15° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Physical characteristics

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Lightcurves

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Two rotational lightcurves of Čiurlionis were obtained from photometric observations. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 12.84 and 15.760 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.48 and 0.51 magnitude, respectively (U=2/3-).[6][7]

Diameter and albedo

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Čiurlionis measures 8.444 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.327.[4][5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.21 – derived from 15 Eunomia, the family's largest member and namesake – and calculates a diameter of 10.06 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.3.[3]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after Lithuanian Art Nouveau painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911).[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 17 February 1984 (M.P.C. 8542).[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2420 Ciurlionis (1975 TN)" (2017-03-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2420) Čiurlionis". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2420) Čiurlionis. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 197. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2421. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (2420) Čiurlionis". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90.
  5. ^ 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 29 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b Durkee, Russell I.; Syring, Connor W. (April 2013). "Lightcurve of 2420 Ciurlionis". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 40 (2): 88. Bibcode:2013MPBu...40...88D. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. ^ a b Foylan, Mike; Durkee, Russell I. (April 2017). "A Revised Rotation Period for Minor Planet 2420 Ciurlionis". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 44 (2): 91–92. Bibcode:2017MPBu...44...91F. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. ^ Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. ^ "2420 Ciurlionis (1975 TN)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
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