1600 Vyssotsky, provisional designation 1947 UC, is a rare-type
Hungaria asteroid and suspected interloper from the inner regions of the
asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 October 1947, by American astronomer
Carl Wirtanen at
Lick Observatory in California, United States.[20] It was named after astronomer
Alexander Vyssotsky.[2]
Classification and orbit
Vyssotsky is a rare
A-type asteroid. Based on its orbital characteristics, it is member of the
Hungaria family, that form the last, innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. However, due to its rare type, it is a suspected interloper, as Hungarias typically show a different
E-type spectra.[17] It orbits the Sun in the
inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–1.9
AU once every 2 years and 6 months (918 days). Its orbit has an
eccentricity of 0.04 and an
inclination of 21
° with respect to the
ecliptic.[1]Vyssotsky's
observation arc begins with its official discovery observation, as no
precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made.[20]
Additional well-defined lightcurves were obtained by astronomers Domenico Licchelli in November 2005 (U=3-),[8] Raymond Poncy,
Raoul Behrend,
René Roy,
Reiner Stoss,
Jaime Nomen,
Salvador Sanchez also in November 2005 (U=3),[14]David Higgins in May 2007 (U=3),[13] Michael Lucas in November 2010 (U=2+),[11] as well as by Hiromi Hamanowa and Hiroko Hamanowa also in November 2010 (U=3).[14] The most recent photometric observation was made by
Robert D. Stephens in September 2015, giving a period of 3.204 hours with an amplitude of 0.24 magnitude (U=3).[16] In spite of its many observations, Vyssotsky's spin axis and spin direction can not be determined with certainty.[17]
Diameter and albedo
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese
Akari satellite, and NASA's
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent
NEOWISE mission, Vyssotsky measures between 6.29 and 7.50 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an
albedo between 0.321 and 0.547.[4][6][5][19] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.3 and calculates a diameter of 7.00 kilometers with an
absolute magnitude of 12.7.[3]
^Schmadel, Lutz D. "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221.
doi:
10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4.
ISBN978-3-642-01964-7.