2537 Gilmore, provisional designation 1951 RL, is a Eunomia asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 September 1951, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.[8] It was named after New Zealand astronomer couple Alan C. Gilmore and Pamela M. Kilmartin

2537 Gilmore
Discovery [1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date4 September 1951
Designations
(2537) Gilmore
Named after
Alan C. Gilmore
Pamela M. Kilmartin
(New Zealand astronomers)[2]
1951 RL · 1977 QP2
main-belt · Eunomia[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc65.47 yr (23,912 days)
Aphelion3.1130 AU
Perihelion2.1988 AU
2.6559 AU
Eccentricity0.1721
4.33 yr (1,581 days)
81.217°
0° 13m 39.72s / day
Inclination12.937°
334.99°
18.786°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.68 km (calculated)[3]
7.221±0.118 km[4][5]
4.230±0.020 h[6]
4.2302±0.0399 h[7]
0.21 (assumed)[3]
0.309±0.055[4][5]
S[3]
12.6[4] · 12.650±0.120 (R)[6] · 12.7[1] · 12.737±0.002 (R)[7] · 13.19[3]

Orbit and classification

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Gilmore is a member of the Eunomia family, a large group of S-type asteroids and the most prominent family in the intermediate main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 4 months (1,581 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 13° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] As no precoveries were taken, the body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Heidelberg in 1951.[8]

Physical characteristics

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Diameter and albedo

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Gilmore measures 7.2 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.309,[4] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.21 and calculates a diameter of 6.7 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 13.19.[3]

Rotation period

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From January to February 2014, two rotational lightcurves of Gilmore were obtained from photometric observations at the Palomar Transient Factory, California. The lightcurves gave a rotation period of 4.230 and 4.2302 hours with a brightness variation of 0.34 and 0.35 in magnitude, respectively (U=2/2).[6][7]

Naming

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This minor planet was named in honor of New Zealand astronomer couple Alan C. Gilmore and his wife, Pamela (née Kilmartin), two very productive observers of comets and minor planet in the Southern Hemisphere. They research at the Mount John University Observatory since 1980, and are members of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.[2]

The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 24 July 1983 (M.P.C. 8064),[9] based on a proposal by Conrad Bardwell (see 1615 Bardwell) and Brian G. Marsden. Pamela Gilmore is also honored by the minor planet 3907 Kilmartin.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2537 Gilmore (1951 RL)" (2017-02-21 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2537) Gilmore". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2537) Gilmore. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 207. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2538. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (2537) Gilmore". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv:1109.6407. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90.
  5. ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Chang, Chan-Kao; Ip, Wing-Huen; Lin, Hsing-Wen; Cheng, Yu-Chi; Ngeow, Chow-Choong; Yang, Ting-Chang; et al. (August 2015). "Asteroid Spin-rate Study Using the Intermediate Palomar Transient Factory". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 219 (2): 19. arXiv:1506.08493. Bibcode:2015ApJS..219...27C. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/219/2/27. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Waszczak, Adam; Chang, Chan-Kao; Ofek, Eran O.; Laher, Russ; Masci, Frank; Levitan, David; et al. (September 2015). "Asteroid Light Curves from the Palomar Transient Factory Survey: Rotation Periods and Phase Functions from Sparse Photometry". The Astronomical Journal. 150 (3): 35. arXiv:1504.04041. Bibcode:2015AJ....150...75W. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/150/3/75. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  8. ^ a b "2537 Gilmore (1951 RL)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  9. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
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