![]() Shape model of Kevola from its
lightcurve | |
Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | L. Oterma |
Discovery site | Turku Obs. |
Discovery date | 16 November 1938 |
Designations | |
(1540) Kevola | |
Named after | Kevola Observatory [2] |
1938 WK · 1926 GT 1933 UM · 1933 WR 1936 KL · 1937 QG 1940 EJ | |
main-belt · (
outer)
[3] background [4] | |
Orbital characteristics [1] | |
Epoch 4 September 2017 ( JD 2458000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
Observation arc | 91.23 yr (33,320 days) |
Aphelion | 3.0937 AU |
Perihelion | 2.6068 AU |
2.8502 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.0854 |
4.81 yr (1,758 days) | |
37.259 ° | |
0° 12m 17.28s / day | |
Inclination | 11.971° |
52.468° | |
113.68° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 37.12±13.60 km
[5] 40.16±0.59 km [6] 40.22±13.69 km [7] 43.875±0.318 km [8] 44.18±1.7 km [9] 44.22 km (derived) [3] |
20.071±0.0119 h
[10] 20.082±0.001 h [11] | |
0.0433±0.004
[9] 0.0474 (derived) [3] 0.048±0.008 [8] 0.05±0.04 [7] 0.053±0.002 [6] 0.06±0.05 [5] | |
C (assumed) [3] | |
10.640±0.003 (R) [10] · 10.70 [3] [7] [8] · 10.80 [1] [6] [9] · 10.83 [5] · 10.83±0.36 [12] | |
1540 Kevola, provisional designation 1938 WK, is a dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 42 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 16 November 1938, by astronomer Liisi Oterma at the Iso-Heikkilä Observatory in Turku, Finland. [13] The asteroid was named after the Finnish Kevola Observatory. [2]
Kevola is a non- family asteroid of the main belt's background population. [4] It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.6–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 10 months (1,758 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 12 ° with respect to the ecliptic. [1]
The body's observation arc begins with its first identification as 1926 GT at Heidelberg Observatory in April 1926, more than 12 years prior to its official discovery observation at Turku. [13]
This minor planet was named for the Finnish Kevola Observatory ( 064). [2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 ( M.P.C. 3930). [14]
Kevola is an assumed carbonaceous C-type asteroid. [3]
In February 2007, a rotational lightcurve of Kevola was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer Pierre Antonini. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 20.082 hours with a brightness variation of 0.23 magnitude ( U=3-). [11] Another lightcurve obtained by astronomers at the Palomar Transient Factory in October 2010, gave a concurring period of 20.071 hours with an amplitude of 0.33 magnitude ( U=2). [10]
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Kevola measures between 37.12 and 44.18 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.0433 and 0.06. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0474 and a diameter of 44.22 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.7. [3]