1230 Riceia, provisional designation 1931 TX1, is a stony background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 October 1931, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory.[8] The asteroid was named after Hugh Rice, amateur astronomer of New York and director of the Museum of Natural Sciences.[2]

1230 Riceia
Shape model of Riceia from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date9 October 1931
Designations
(1230) Riceia
Pronunciation/ˈrsiə/
Named after
Hugh Rice[2]
(U.S. amateur astronomer)
1931 TX1 · 1964 TS
1964 UE · 1975 HH
main-belt · (inner)[3]
background[4]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc86.13 yr (31,459 days)
Aphelion3.0335 AU
Perihelion2.1104 AU
2.5719 AU
Eccentricity0.1795
4.12 yr (1,507 days)
288.81°
0° 14m 20.4s / day
Inclination10.515°
200.55°
185.25°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.194±0.344 km[5]
7.46 km (calculated)[3]
6.67317±0.00001 h[6]
0.20 (assumed)[3]
0.318±0.037[5]
S[3][7]
12.90[5] · 13.0[1][3] · 13.11±0.22[7]

Orbit and classification

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Riceia is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.[4] It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.1–3.0 AU once every 4 years and 1 month (1,507 days; semi-major axis of 2.57 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins at Heidelberg on 17 October 1931, or eight days after its official discovery observation.[8]

Physical characteristics

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Riceia has been characterized as a stony S-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS photometric survey.[7]

Rotation period and pole

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In 2016, a rotational lightcurve of Riceia was modeled from photometric data from the Lowell Photometric Database. Lightcurve analysis gave a sidereal rotation period of 6.67317 hours as well as a spin axis of (37.0°, −63.0°) in ecliptic coordinates (λ, β).[6]

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, Riceia measures 6.19 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a high albedo of 0.318.[5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 7.46 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 13.0.[3]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after American amateur astronomer Hugh Rice, director of the Museum of Natural Sciences (possibly AMNH).[2] The naming was proposed by Irving Meyer and endorsed by German astronomer Gustav Stracke who mentioned on a postcard in February 1937, that his American college, Meyer, who himself did not discover any asteroids, requested the naming after the city of Rutherford, where a private observatory was located at the time.[9]

The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 113).[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1230 Riceia (1931 TX1)" (2017-11-25 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1230) Riceia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1230) Riceia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 102. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1231. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (1230) Riceia". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Asteroid 1230 Riceia – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b Durech, J.; Hanus, J.; Oszkiewicz, D.; Vanco, R. (March 2016). "Asteroid models from the Lowell photometric database". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 587: 6. arXiv:1601.02909. Bibcode:2016A&A...587A..48D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201527573. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b "1230 Riceia (1931 TX1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  9. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1249) Rutherfordia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1249) Rutherfordia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 104. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1250. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
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