11020 Orwell

Main-belt background asteroid

11020 Orwell (provisional designation 1984 OG) is a background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 14 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 31 July 1984, by Czech astronomer Antonín Mrkos at Kleť Observatory in the Czech Republic. The asteroid was named after English writer George Orwell.[2][3]

Classification and orbit

Orwell orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.6–3.6 AU once every 5 years and 6 months (1,993 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It was first observed as 1979 SA9 at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1979, extending the body's observation arc by 5 years prior to its official discovery observation at Klet.[3]

Physical characteristics

According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Orwell measures 14.466 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.089.[4] It has an absolute magnitude of 12.6.[1]

Lightcurves

As of 2017, Orwell's spectral type, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1][5]

Naming

This minor planet was named for British writer Eric Blair (1903–1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, who is associated with the year of the object's discovery, 1984, due to his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which explores the dangers of totalitarian rule. He is also known for the novel Animal Farm. The name was proposed by Czech astronomer Jana Tichá at Klet and supported by Brian G. Marsden.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 23 May 2000 (M.P.C. 40705).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 11020 Orwell (1984 OG)" (2016-08-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(11020) Orwell". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (11020) Orwell. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 750. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_8188. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b "11020 Orwell (1984 OG)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  4. ^ 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 12 April 2017.
  5. ^ "LCDB Data for (11020) Orwell". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  6. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 April 2017.

External links

  • Kleť Observatory & KLENOT Project homepage
  • Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
  • Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
  • Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
  • Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (10001)-(15000) – Minor Planet Center
  • 11020 Orwell at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
    • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
  • 11020 Orwell at the JPL Small-Body Database Edit this at Wikidata
    • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • JPL SBDB
  • MPC