185638 Erwinschwab (provisional designation2008 EU7) is a potentially sub-kilometer Nysian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 1 March 2008, by OAM-astronomers at the La Sagra Observatory in southern Spain. The asteroid is estimated to measure between 950 meters and 1.8 kilometers in diameter and was named after German astronomer Erwin Schwab in 2009.[2]
Orbit and classification
Erwinschwab is a member of the Nysa family (405),[3] the main belt's largest asteroid family with nearly 20 thousand members. The family also known as the Nysa-Polana complex, consisting of several distinct subfamilies.[5]: 23
The asteroid orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.8 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,342 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.16 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The body's observation arc begins with its first identification as 1995 UZ53 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak Observatory in October 1995, more than 12 years prior to its official discovery observation at La Sagra in 2008.[2]
Erwinschwab has not been observed by any space-based telescope such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite or the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. Based on an assumed albedo of 0.20, which is typical for silicaceous asteroid, the asteroid measures 0.95 kilometers in diameter for an absolute magnitude of 17.5.[4] Since members of the Nysa family complex also include carbonaceous asteroid, Erwinschwab's albedo may also be estimated at 0.057, which translates into a larger diameter of 1.8 kilometers.[4]
Rotation period
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Erwinschwab has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole axis and shape remain unknown.[6]
