[meteorite-list] Asteroid 5381 Sekhmet Is A Binary System (IAUC 8163)

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:20:59 2004
Message-ID: <200307061902.MAA12121_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

                                                  Circular No. 8163
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
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(5381) SEKHMET
     M. C. Nolan and E. S. Howell, National Astronomy and
Ionosphere Center; A. S. Rivkin, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology; and C. D. Neish, University of British Columbia, write:
"Arecibo radar delay-Doppler images (2380 MHz, 12.6 cm) obtained on
May 8-11 show that minor-planet (5381) is a binary system.
Preliminary estimates of average diameters, based on range extents
at 45-m resolution, are 1000 m and 300 m. The orbital period
appears to be near 12 hr, with 24 hr much less probable. The
minimum orbital radius is 1.3 km, with 1.5 km as our best estimate.
Visible spectroscopy obtained on May 21 at the Kitt Peak 4-m
telescope show an absorption band near 1 micron, suggesting a stony
composition. Optical lightcurve observations of this object would
be extremely valuable."

[snip]

                      (C) Copyright 2003 CBAT
2003 July 6 (8163) Daniel W. E. Green
Received on Sun 06 Jul 2003 03:02:08 PM PDT