1005 Arago

Classification and orbit

Arago orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.8–3.5 AU once every 5 years and 8 months (2,058 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 19° with respect to the ecliptic. The asteroid's observation arc begins at Uccle Observatory in 1935, twelve years after its official discovery observation at Simeiz.

Physical characteristics

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Arago measures between 48.57 and in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.0498 and 0.08. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0582 and a diameter of 57.69 km based on an absolute magnitude of 9.9.

Lightcurve

In October 2010, a rotational lightcurve of Arago was obtained from photometric observations that was later submitted to the CALL website. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 8.7819 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.22 magnitude (). In April 2016, another lightcurve was obtained by the group of Spanish amateur astronomers OBAS. It gave a concurring period of 8.784 hours with an amplitude of 0.22 magnitude ().

Spectral type

Arago is characterized by WISE as a dark and reddish P-type asteroid. It is also a carbonaceous C-type asteroid as generically assumed by CALL.

Naming

This minor planet was named after French mathematician François Arago (1786–1853) director of the Paris Observatory. He is also honored by an inner ring of Neptune, the crater Arago on the Moon and the crater Arago on Mars. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 96).

Notes

References

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