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1921 Pala, provisional designation 1973 SE is a background asteroid in an unstable orbit located in the outer region of asteroid belt, approximately 8.2 kilometers in diameter. It is one of very few bodies located in the 2 : 1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. It was discovered by Dutch–American astronomer Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory on 20 September 1973.

Orbit and characterization

Pala is a non-family background asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.0–4.6 AU once every 5 years and 12 months (2,187 days; semi-major axis of 3.30 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.39 and an inclination of 19° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins at Palomar with its official discovery observation.

It has a strongly unstable orbit near the 2:1 orbital resonance with Jupiter. The asteroid's orbit is expected to persist for another 18 million years though.

Pala measures approximately 8.2 kilometers in diameter, while the albedo of its surface has not been estimated. As of 2017, the body's spectral type as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.

Naming

This minor planet is named after the Indian reservation, Pala, located at the base of Palomar Mountain, believed to apply to an Indian tribe whose members have lived in the area for many centuries. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 (M.P.C. 3938).

See also

• 1922 Zulu
• 1362 Griqua

References

1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1921 Pala (1973 SE)" (2017-03-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1921) Pala". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1921) Pala. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 154. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1922. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
3. ^ "Asteroid 1921 Pala – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
4. ^ Roig, F.; Nesvorný, D.; Ferraz-Mello, S. (September 2002). "Asteroids in the 2 : 1 resonance with Jupiter: dynamics and size distribution [ Erratum: 2002MNRAS.336.1391R ]". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 335 (2): 417–431. Bibcode:2002MNRAS.335..417R. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05635.x.
5. Tholen (2007). "Asteroid Absolute Magnitudes". EAR-A-5-DDR-ASTERMAG-V11.0. Planetary Data System. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
6. ^ "1921 Pala (1973 SE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
7. "LCDB Data for (1921) Pala". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 14 June 2017.
8. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2009). "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. Bibcode:2009dmpn.book.....S. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 21 July 2011 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 (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
• 1921 Pala at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 1921 Pala at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Minor planet object articles (numbered)
• Background asteroids
• Discoveries by Tom Gehrels
• Named minor planets
• Astronomical objects discovered in 1973