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2244 Tesla

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Asteroid

2244 Tesla
Discovery 
Discovered byM. B. Protić
Discovery siteBelgrade Obs.
Discovery date22 October 1952
Designations
MPC designation(2244) Tesla
Named afterNikola Tesla
(Serbian inventor)
Alternative designations1952 UW1 · 1938 UE1
1938 WE · 1949 AA
1966 UB · 1976 YR3
1980 SV · 1980 TJ15
Minor planet categorymain-belt · (middle)
Orbital characteristics 
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc64.62 yr (23,602 days)
Aphelion3.3186 AU
Perihelion2.3020 AU
Semi-major axis2.8103 AU
Eccentricity0.1809
Orbital period (sidereal)4.71 yr (1,721 days)
Mean anomaly260.21°
Mean motion0° 12 33.12 / day
Inclination7.8234°
Longitude of ascending node106.49°
Argument of perihelion297.81°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions24.377±0.030 km
29 km
Geometric albedo0.050±0.003
Spectral typeSMASS = C 
Absolute magnitude (H)11.9

2244 Tesla, provisional designation 1952 UW1, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 25 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 October 1952, by Serbian astronomer Milorad Protić at the Belgrade Observatory, then Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, now Serbia. It is named after the inventor Nikola Tesla.

Orbit

Tesla orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.3–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 9 months (1,721 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic. It was first identified as 1938 UE1 at Turku Observatory in 1938, extending the body's observation arc by 14 years prior to its official discovery at Belgrade.

Physical characteristics

In the SMASS taxonomy, Tesla is a dark C-type asteroid. According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Tesla measures 24.37 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a low albedo of 0.050, in correspondence with its carbonaceous composition. A larger diameter estimate of 29 kilometers was obtained in 2008, from an asteroid occultation.

Lightcurves

As of 2017, Tesla's rotation period and shape remains unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named in memory of Serbian-American electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943). He is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. The lunar crater Tesla is also named in his honor. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 7 March 1985 (M.P.C. 9477).

References

  1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2244 Tesla (1952 UW1)" (2017-06-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2244) Tesla". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2244) Tesla. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 183. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2245. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ "The Occultation Section: OCCULTATION BY (2244) TESLA – 2008 Aug 16". Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008.
  5. ^ "2244 Tesla (1952 UW1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. "LCDB Data for (2244) Tesla". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 March 2017.

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