Romulus (moon)

Romulus (moon)

Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical_characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#A0FFA0 | minorplanet=yes | width=28em
name=Romulus
discovery_ref = [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/07500/07588.html IAUC 7588] , announcing the discovery of S/2001 (87) 1]
discoverer=Michael E. Brown and Jean-Luc Margot
discovered=February 18, 2001
mp_name=S/2001 (87) 1
mp_category=Main belt (Cybele)
orbit_ref=cite journal|author=F. Marchis et al|title="Discovery of the triple asteroidal system 87 Sylvia"|journal=Nature|volume=436|pages=822|year=2005|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2005Natur.436..822M&db_key=AST&data_type=HTML&format=&high=444b66a47d32268|doi=10.1038/nature04018]
semimajor= 1356 ± 5 km
eccentricity= 0.001 ± 0.001
period= 3.6496 ± 0.0007 d
avg_speed=27.0 m/s
inclination= 1.7 ± 1.0°
(with respect to Sylvia equator)
satellite_of = 87 Sylvia
dimensions= 18 ± 4 kmAssuming the same albedo as Sylvia]
mass= ~ 4e|15 kg "(estimate)"Assuming same density and albedo as Sylvia]
escape_velocity= ~ 7 m/s "(estimate)"
abs_magnitude= 10.7

Romulus is the outer and larger moon of the main belt asteroid 87 Sylvia, not to be confused with the directly Sun-orbiting asteroid 10386 Romulus. It follows an almost-circular close-to-equatorial orbit around the parent asteroid. In this respect it is similar to the other moon Remus.

Romulus was discovered in February 2001 from the Keck II telescope by Michael E. Brown and Jean-Luc Margot. Its full designation is (87) Sylvia I Romulus; before receiving its name, it was known as S/2001 (87) 1.The moon is named after Romulus, the mythological founder of Rome, one of the twins of Rhea Silvia raised by a wolf.

87 Sylvia has a low density, which indicates that it is likely a rubble pile asteroid formed when debris from a collision between its parent body and another asteroid re-accreted gravitationally. Therefore it is likely that both Romulus and Remus, the second of Sylvia's moons, are smaller rubble piles which accreted in orbit around the main body from debris of the same collision. In this case their albedo and density are expected to be similar to Sylvia's.

Romulus' orbit is expected to be quite stable − it lies far inside Sylvia's Hill sphere (about 1/50 of Sylvia's Hill radius), but also far outside the synchronous orbit.

From Romulus' surface, Sylvia takes up an angular region 16°×10° across, while Remus apparent size varies between 0.62° and 0.19°.

ee also

* Remus (moon)

References

External links

* [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/astmoons/am-00087.html Data on (87) Sylvia from Johnston's archive] (maintained by W. R. Johnston)
*" [http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2005/pr-21-05.html Rubble-Pile Minor Planet Sylvia and Her Twins] " (ESO news release, August 2005) Includes images and artists impressions
*" [http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01b.html Adaptive Optics System Reveals New Asteroidal Satellite] " (SpaceDaily.com, March 2001) Includes a discovery image.
* [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/07500/07590.html IAUC 7590] , confirming the discovery of S/2001 (87) 1
* [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/08500/08582.html IAUC 8582] , reporting discovery of S/2004 (87) 1 and naming Romulus and Remus


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Romulus (disambiguation) — Romulus in it|Romolo may refer to any of these articles: People* Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome * Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor * Valerius Romulus (Divus Romulus), deified son of a Roman emperor *Romulus (fabulist) *St …   Wikipedia

  • Remus (moon) — Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#A0FFA0 | minorplanet=yes | width=29em name=Remus discovery ref = [http://cfa www.harvard.edu/iauc/08500/08582.html IAUC 8582] , announcing the discovery of S/2004 (87) 1… …   Wikipedia

  • Minor planet moon — 243 Ida and its moon Dactyl as imaged by the Galileo spacecraft in 1993 …   Wikipedia

  • Extraterrestrial skies — The sky of a world refers to the view of the heavens from its surface. This view varies from world to world for many reasons. The most important factor in the appearance of a world s sky is its atmosphere, or the lack thereof. Depending on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Gregorian calendar — For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see Liturgical year. For this year s Gregorian calendar, see Common year starting on Saturday. 2011 in other calendars Gregorian calendar 2011 MMXI …   Wikipedia

  • Janus — For other uses, see Janus (disambiguation). Bifrons redirects here. For other uses, see Bifrons (disambiguation). A statue representing Janus Bifrons in the Vatican Museums In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings… …   Wikipedia

  • 87 Sylvia — Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0 name=87 Sylvia discoverer=Norman Robert Pogson discovered=May 16, 1866 alt names=A909 GA mp category=Main belt (Cybele) epoch=July 14, 2004 (JD 2453200.5)… …   Wikipedia

  • Anthony Lupus — Superherobox no caption= character name= The Werewolf real name= Anthony Lupus publisher=DC Comics debut= Batman #255 creator= alliance color=background:#c0c0ff status= alliances=Professor Milo aliases= powers=Turns into a werewolf under the full …   Wikipedia

  • Proto-Indo-European religion — The chariot, as a symbol of social rank and military strength but also mythologically as the sun chariot (Trundholm sun chariot pictured, Nordic Bronze Age, ca. 160 …   Wikipedia

  • Roman calendar — The Roman calendar changed its form several times in the time between the founding of Rome and the fall of the Roman Empire. This article generally discusses the early Roman or pre Julian calendars. The calendar used after 46 BC is discussed …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”