(17365)_1978_VF11

17365 Thymbraeus

17365 Thymbraeus

Jupiter trojan asteroid

17365 Thymbraeus (provisional designation 1978 VF11) is a Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, which is located in Jupiter's trailing L5 Lagrangian point.

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Background

It was discovered by Eleanor Helin and Schelte Bus at Palomar Observatory on 7 November 1978.[2] Thymbraeus is 45 kilometres (28 mi) in diameter and has an elongated dumbbell shape that is on the verge of splitting apart due to centrifugal forces of its rapid rotation.[4] The asteroid's density is less than that of water, indicating that it has a highly porous interior structure similar to a rubble pile.[5][6][4] It was given the name Thymbraeus on 27 February 2023, after one of the two sons of the Trojan priest Laocoön who was attacked by sea serpents for attempting to warn the Trojans about the Trojan horse in Greek mythology.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 17365 Thymbraeus (1978 VF11)" (2023-09-07 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  2. [2]
    "(17365) Thymbraeus = 1998 MM49 = 1978 VF11 = 1999 RE121". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. [3]
    "List of Jupiter Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  4. [4]
    Carry, B.; Descamps, P.; Ferrais, M.; Rivet, J.-P.; Berthier, J.; Jehin, E.; et al. (2023). "Close-to-fission dumbbell Jupiter-Trojan (17365) Thymbraeus". Astronomy & Astrophysics. forthcoming: 6. arXiv:2309.15537. Bibcode:2023arXiv230915537C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202347158.
  5. [5]
    Mann, Rita K.; Jewitt, David; Lacerda, Pedro (September 2007). "Fraction of Contact Binary Trojan Asteroids". The Astronomical Journal. 134 (3): 1133–1144. arXiv:0706.0233. Bibcode:2007AJ....134.1133M. doi:10.1086/520328.
  6. [6]
    Noll, K. S.; Benecchi, S. D.; Ryan, E. L.; Grundy, W. M. (March 2014). Ultra-Slow Rotating Outer Main Belt and Trojan Asteroids: Search for Binaries (PDF). 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Vol. 45. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 1703. Bibcode:2014LPI....45.1703N.
  7. [7]
    "WGSBN Bulletin 3, #3" (PDF). WGSBN Bulletin. 3 (3). International Astronomical Union: 22. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
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