1767 Lampland

Orbit and classification

Lampland a member the Eos family (606), the largest asteroid family in the outer main belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 3 months (1,915 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.

The asteroid was first identified as at Uccle Observatory in September 1941. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery at Palomar Observatory in August 1951, more than 11 years prior to its official discovery observation at Goethe Link.

Physical characteristics

In the Tholen classification, its spectral type is ambiguous, closest to the X-type asteroid and with some resemblance to the C-type asteroids, while the overall spectral type of the Eos family is that of a K-type.

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Lampland has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Lampland measures 15.448 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.116.

Naming

This minor planet was named after American astronomer Carl Lampland (1873–1951), a graduate of Indiana University, best known for his radiometric measurements of planetary temperatures.

Lampland is also honored by a lunar and by a Martian crater. The name was proposed by Frank K. Edmondson, who initiated the Indiana Asteroid Program. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1971 (M.P.C. 3144).

References