1441 Bolyai, provisional designation 1937 WA, is a dark asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 13 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 26 November 1937, by Hungarian astronomer György Kulin at Konkoly Observatory in Budapest, Hungary.[8] The asteroid was named after Hungarian mathematician János Bolyai.[2]
Orbit and classification
Bolyai orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.0–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 3 months (1,559 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 14° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] Bolyai's observation arc begins the night following its official discovery observation in 1937, as no precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made.[8]
Physical characteristics
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Bolyai measures between 12.31 and 14.76 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo between 0.047 and 0.05.[4][5][6][7]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) derives an albedo of 0.0426 and a diameter of 14.75 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 13.2.[3] For asteroids with a semi-major axis between 2.6 and 2.7 AU, the probability of an asteroid being either of a stony (albedo of 0.20) or of a carbonaceous (albedo of 0.057) composition is considered equally likely by CALL (which then uses an albedo of 0.10 as a compromise value between the two main types). In the case of Bolyai, however, the space-based albedo measurements suggest that it is most likely of a carbonaceous composition.
Lightcurve
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Bolyai has been obtained. Its rotation period, composition and shape remain unknown.
Naming
This minor planet was named after the Hungarian mathematician János Bolyai (1802–1860), a co-founder of non-Euclidean geometry in the early 19th century.[2] Naming citation was first mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 130)[2] and a clarification of the naming is given in a paper published in Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage in 2012.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1441 Bolyai (1937 WA)" (2017-06-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1441) Bolyai". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1441) Bolyai. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 115–116. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1442. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (1441) Bolyai". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Kramer, E. A.; Grav, T.; et al. (September 2016). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year Two: Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astronomical Journal. 152 (3): 12. arXiv:1606.08923. Bibcode:2016AJ....152...63N. doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/3/63.
- ^ a b c d Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Masiero, J.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Grav, T.; et al. (December 2015). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year One: Preliminary Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 814 (2): 13. arXiv:1509.02522. Bibcode:2015ApJ...814..117N. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/814/2/117. S2CID 9341381.
- ^ 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. S2CID 46350317.
- ^ 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. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
- ^ a b "1441 Bolyai (1937 WA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ Csizmadia, Á.; Csizmadia, Sz. (2012). "On the Origin of the Name of the Minor Planet (1441) Bolyai". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 15 (3): 179. Bibcode:2012JAHH...15..179C. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2012.03.03. S2CID 229809642.
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 (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
- 1441 Bolyai at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 1441 Bolyai at the JPL Small-Body Database
