29 Amphitrite

29 Amphitrite is one of the largest S-type asteroids, approximately Template:Convert in diameter, and probably fifth largest after Eunomia, Juno, Iris and Herculina.

Discovery

Amphitrite was discovered by Albert Marth on 1 March 1854, at the private South Villa Observatory, in Regent's Park, London. It was Marth's only asteroid discovery. Its name was chosen by George Bishop, the owner of the observatory, who named it after Amphitrite, a sea goddess in Greek mythology.<ref name="springer"/> Its historical symbol was a shell and star; it was encoded in Unicode 17.0 as U+1CECF 𜻏 (File:Amphitrite symbol (fixed width).svg).<ref name=astunicode>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Unicode-1CEC0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Characteristics

File:29Amphitrite (Lightcurve Inversion).png

Lightcurve-based 3D model of Amphitrite

Amphitrite's orbit is less eccentric and inclined than those of its larger cousins; indeed, it is the most circular of any asteroid discovered up to that point. As a consequence, it never becomes as bright as Iris or Hebe, especially as it is much further from the Sun than those asteroids. It can reach magnitudes of around +8.6 at a favorable opposition, but usually is around the binocular limit of +9.5.

In 2007, James Baer and Steven R. Chesley estimated Amphitrite to have a mass of 1.9Template:E kg.<ref name="Baer2007">Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2008 estimate by Baer suggests it has a mass of 1.18Template:E kg.<ref name="Baer"> Template:Cite web </ref>

A satellite of the asteroid is suspected to exist, based on lightcurve data collected by Edward F. Tedesco.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite conference</ref> In 1988 a search for satellites or dust orbiting this asteroid was performed using the UH88 telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories, but neither were found.<ref name="Gradie1988"/>

Proposed exploration

In 1984, while determining the Galileo mission's prelaunch trajectory to Jupiter, JPL engineers found out that if the spacecraft launched on May 1986, it could perform a flyby of 29 Amphitrite at a distance of Template:Cvt on 6 December 1986. However, with the Challenger disaster delaying the launch to October 1989, the flyby was ultimately cancelled.Template:R

External links

• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
• Template:AstDys
• Template:JPL small body