1992 Galvarino

Classification and orbit

Galvarino is a stony S-type asteroid and a member of the Eos family, an orbital group of more than 4,000 asteroids, which are well known for mostly being of stony composition with a relatively high albedo. It is also classified as a M- and L-type asteroids by WISE and PanSTARRS, respectively.

It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.8–3.1 AU once every 5 years and 2 months (1,890 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic. Its observation arc begins with its official discovery observation in 1968, as no precoveries and no previous identifications were made.

Physical characteristics

As of 2016, a single rotational lightcurve of Galvarino has been obtained. The photometric observations were made in the 1990s, giving a well-defined rotation period of 7.004 hours with a brightness variation of 0.6 magnitude ().

According to the surveys carried out by NASA's WISE satellite with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, the asteroid measures 9.6 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.145, while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.14 and calculates a diameter of 10.2 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 12.7.

Naming

This minor planet was named after the indigenous warrior Galvarino, the heroic figure during the Arauco War, a long-running conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people of the 16th century in what is now Chile.

He was condemned by the Spanish soldiers to have his hands cut off and then to be freed as a living lesson to other Indians. Since his request for death was not granted, he promised revenge. He continued to fight the conquerors until recaptured and condemned to the gallows. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1980 (M.P.C. 5358).

References

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info )
• 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