1128 Astrid

Orbit and classification

Astrid is the parent body of the Astrid family (515), a smaller asteroid family of nearly 500 carbonaceous members. It is located in the outermost central main-belt, near a prominent Kirkwood gap, that marks the 5:2 orbital resonance with Jupiter, and divides the asteroid belt into a central and outer part.

Astrid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–2.9 AU once every 4 years and 8 months (1,700 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic.

The asteroid was first identified as at the Simeiz Observatory in September 1917. The body's observation arc begins with its identification as at Heidelberg Observatory in May 1920, nearly 9 years prior to its official discovery observation at Uccle.

Physical characteristics

In the SMASS classification, Astrid is a carbonaceous C-type asteroid, which corresponds to the overall spectral type of the Astrid family.

Rotation period

In September 2005, a rotational lightcurve of Astrid was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer René Roy. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 10.228 hours with a brightness variation of 0.29 magnitude (). In October 2010, additional lightcurves were obtained at the Palomar Transient Factory in California, as well as by astronomers Eric Barbotin and Raoul Behrend, which gave a concurring period of 10.2 and 10.229 hours with an amplitude of 0.10 and 0.13 magnitude, respectively ().

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Astrid measures between 33.28 and 52.48 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.031 and 0.077.

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0644 and a diameter of 34.60 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.9.

1128 Astrid has been observed to occult 2 stars, both events on 24 Jun 2023 UT.

Naming

This minor planet was named in memory of Astrid of Sweden (1905–1935), Queen consort of the Belgians, who died at the age of 29 in a car accident while on vacation in Switzerland. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 106).

References