4543 Phoinix is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 63 kilometers (39 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 2 February 1989, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California.[1] The assumed C-type asteroid is possibly elongated and has a longer-than-average rotation period of 38.9 hours.[4] It is one of the 60 largest Jupiter trojans and was named after Phoenix (Phoinix) from Greek mythology.[1]

4543 Phoinix
Discovery [1]
Discovered byC. Shoemaker
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date2 February 1989
Designations
(4543) Phoinix
Pronunciation/ˈfnɪks/[2] or /ˈfɔɪnɪks/
Named after
Phoenix[1]
(Greek mythology)
1989 CQ1 · 1930 DN
1977 AP1
Jupiter trojan[1][3][4]
Greek[5][6] · background[6]
AdjectivesPhoinician
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.10 yr (23,046 d)
Aphelion5.6129 AU
Perihelion4.6355 AU
5.1242 AU
Eccentricity0.0954
11.60 yr (4,237 d)
260.47°
0° 5m 6s / day
Inclination14.712°
325.38°
84.960°
Jupiter MOID0.0193 AU
TJupiter2.9260
Physical characteristics
62.73 km (derived)[4]
62.79±5.7 km[7]
63.84±0.38 km[8]
69.54±2.20 km[9]
38.866±0.012 h[10]
0.049±0.003[9]
0.0540 (derived)[4]
0.057±0.017[8]
0.0591±0.012[7]
C (assumed)[4]
V–I = 1.200±0.078[4]
9.70[1][3][7][8][9]
9.8[4]
9.89±0.27[11]

Orbit and classification

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Phoinix is a dark Jovian asteroid orbiting in the leading Greek camp at Jupiter's L4 Lagrangian point, 60° ahead of the Gas Giant's orbit in a 1:1 resonance (see Trojans in astronomy). This asteroid is not a member of any asteroid family but belongs to the Jovian background population.[6][12]

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 4.6–5.6 AU once every 11 years and 7 months (4,237 days; semi-major axis of 5.12 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 15° with respect to the ecliptic.[3]

The asteroid was first observer as 1930 DN at Heidelberg Observatory in February 1930. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar in April 1955, nearly 34 years prior to its official discovery observation.[1]

Physical characteristics

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Phoinix is a generically assumed C-type asteroid. Its V–I color index of 1.20 is the highest of all larger Jovian trojans, which are typically D-types with a V–I index near 0.90 (also see table below).[4]

Rotation period

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In November 2011, a rotational lightcurve of Phoinix was obtained from photometric observations by Italian astronomer Albino Carbognani at the OAVdA Observatory (B04), Italy, with follow-up observations conducted at Calar Alto Observatory by Stefano Mottola and Uri Carsenty the following month. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 38.866 hours with a brightness amplitude of at least 0.34 magnitude (U=2+).[10] While not being a slow rotator, Phoinix has a longer-than average period, especially for a large Jupiter trojan. Its relatively high brightness amplitude is indicative of a non-spherical, elongated shape.

Diameter and albedo

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According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite, the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, Phoinix measures between 62.79 and 69.54 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.049 and 0.059.[7][8][9]

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0540 and a diameter of 62.73 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 9.8.[4]

100+ largest Jupiter trojans

Naming

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This minor planet was named by the discoverer from Greek mythology after Phoenix (Phoinix), a wise Greek leader in the Trojan War, who raised Achilles and convinced him to join the campaign.[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 April 1991 (M.P.C. 18143).[13]

References

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  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "4543 Phoinix (1989 CQ1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. ^ 'Phœnix' in Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4543 Phoinix (1989 CQ1)" (2018-05-25 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "LCDB Data for (4543) Phoinix". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  5. ^ "List of Jupiter Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Asteroid (4543) Phoinix". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System – IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Bauer, J. M.; Masiero, J. R.; Nugent, C. R. (November 2012). "WISE/NEOWISE Observations of the Jovian Trojan Population: Taxonomy". The Astrophysical Journal. 759 (1): 10. arXiv:1209.1549. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759...49G. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/759/1/49. S2CID 119101711. (online catalog)
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Usui, Fumihiko; Kuroda, Daisuke; Müller, Thomas G.; Hasegawa, Sunao; Ishiguro, Masateru; Ootsubo, Takafumi; et al. (October 2011). "Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 63 (5): 1117–1138. Bibcode:2011PASJ...63.1117U. doi:10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117. (online, AcuA catalog p. 153)
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Mottola, Stefano; Di Martino, Mario; Erikson, Anders; Gonano-Beurer, Maria; Carbognani, Albino; Carsenty, Uri; et al. (May 2011). "Rotational Properties of Jupiter Trojans. I. Light Curves of 80 Objects". The Astronomical Journal. 141 (5): 32. Bibcode:2011AJ....141..170M. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/141/5/170.
  11. ^ 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. S2CID 53493339.
  12. ^ "Asteroid 4543 Phoinix". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  13. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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