12373 Lancearmstrong

12373 Lancearmstrong

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	C. P. de Saint-Aignan
Discovery site	Palomar Obs.
Discovery date	15 May 1994
Designations
MPC designation	(12373) Lancearmstrong
Named after	Lance Armstrong (road racing cyclist)[2]
Alternative designations	1994 JE9 · 1997 AP22
Minor planet category	main-belt · (inner) Vestian
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	23.05 yr (8,419 days)
Aphelion	2.7308 AU
Perihelion	2.1698 AU
Semi-major axis	2.4503 AU
Eccentricity	0.1145
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.84 yr (1,401 days)
Mean anomaly	354.34°
Mean motion	0° 15^m 25.2^s / day
Inclination	6.7515°
Longitude of ascending node	118.50°
Argument of perihelion	149.65°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	3.291±0.264[3] 5±1 km (est. at 0.20)[4]
Geometric albedo	0.449±0.089[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	14.2[1]

12373 Lancearmstrong, provisional designation 1994 JE₉, is a bright Vestian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 15 May 1994, by American astronomer and software engineer Charles de Saint-Aignan after examining films taken at Palomar Observatory, California, and named after American cyclist Lance Armstrong.^[5]

Orbital and physical characteristics

Lancearmstrong: orbital diagram

The asteroid orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.2–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,401 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.^[1] The body's observation arc begins in 1994, as no precoveries were taken prior to its discovery.^[5]

Based on an absolute magnitude of 14.2 and an assumed albedo of 0.20, which is typical for bodies with a silicaceous composition, Lancearmstrong measures between 4 and 6 kilometers in diameter.^[4]

According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, the asteroid measures 3.3 kilometers in diameter due to an unusually high albedo of 0.449.^[3] As of 2016, its composition, shape and rotation period and shape remains unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named after American Lance Armstrong (born 1971), former professional road racing cyclist. Despite being diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer, he recovered and returned to cycling. At the time this minor planet was named, he had won the Tour de France three times and encouraged athletes and cancer survivors worldwide.^[2][6] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 November 2001 (M.P.C. 43762).^[7] In 2012, Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France victories after a doping scandal.

See also

• List of minor planets named after people
• List of exceptional asteroids
• Meanings of asteroid names – Lancearmstrong

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 12373 Lancearmstrong (1994 JE9)" (2017-06-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(12373) Lancearmstrong". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (12373) Lancearmstrong. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 780. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_8578. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
3. Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
4. "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Archived from the original on 2 March 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
5. "12373 Lancearmstrong (1994 JE9)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
6. Ash, Russell (10 November 2011). Boring, Botty and Spong. RHCP. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4090-9739-6.
7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (10001)-(15000) – Minor Planet Center
• 12373 Lancearmstrong at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 12373 Lancearmstrong at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters