12444 Prothoon
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| name = 12444 Prothoon
| background = #C2FFFF
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| discoverer = E. W. Elst
| discovery_site = La Silla Obs.
| discovered = 15 April 1996
| mpc_name = (12444) Prothoon
| alt_names = {{mp|1996 GE|19}}
| adjective = Prothoonian
| pronounced = {{IPAc-en|'|p|r|ɒ|θ|oʊ|.|ɒ|n}}
| named_after = Προθόων Prothoōn
{{small|(Greek mythology)}}
| mp_category = Jupiter trojan
{{nowrap|Trojan{{·}}background}}
| epoch = 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
| uncertainty = 0
| observation_arc = 22.17 yr (8,096 d)
| aphelion = 5.6206 AU
| perihelion = 4.8680 AU
| semimajor = 5.2443 AU
| eccentricity = 0.0718
| period = 12.01 yr (4,387 d)
| mean_anomaly = 240.44°
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.0821|sup=ms}} / day
| inclination = 30.827°
| asc_node = 213.23°
| arg_peri = 64.656°
| jupiter_moid = 0.3876 AU
| tisserand = 2.7120
| mean_diameter = {{val|62.41|2.92|ul=km}}
{{val|63.84|0.84|u=km}}
{{val|64.31|15.8|u=km}}
{{val|64.41|u=km}} {{small|(derived)}}
| rotation = {{val|15.82|0.01|ul=h}}
| albedo = {{val|0.039|0.030}}
{{val|0.043|0.004}}
{{val|0.0467}} {{small|(derived)}}
{{val|0.052|0.008}}
| spectral_type = C {{small|(assumed)}}
| abs_magnitude = 9.8
9.9
{{val|9.95|0.31}}
10.10
}}
12444 Prothoon {{IPAc-en|'|p|r|ɒ|θ|oʊ|.|ɒ|n}} is a large Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately {{convert|64|km|mi|abbr=off|sigfig=2|sp=us}} in diameter. It was discovered on 15 April 1996, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at the La Silla Observatory in northern Chile. The assumed C-type asteroid is one of the 60 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 15.82 hours. It was named after Prothoon from Greek mythology.
Orbit and classification
Prothoon is a dark Jovian asteroid orbiting in the trailering Trojan camp at Jupiter's {{L5}} Lagrangian point, 60° behind on the Gas Giant's orbit in a 1:1 resonance (see Trojans in astronomy). This asteroid is not a member of any asteroid family but belongs to the Jovian background population. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 4.9–5.6 AU once every 12.01 years (4,387 days; semi-major axis of 5.24 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 31° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at La Silla in March 1996, one month prior to its official discovery observation.
Physical characteristics
Prothoon is an assumed C-type asteroid.
= Rotation period =
In August 2011, a rotational lightcurve of Prothoon was obtained from photometric observations by Robert Stephens at the Goat Mountain Astronomical Research Station {{Obscode|G79}} in California. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 15.82 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.20 magnitude ({{small|U=3-}}).
= Diameter and albedo =
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite, the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, Prothoon measures between 62.41 and 64.31 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.039 and 0.052.
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0467 and a diameter of 64.41 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 9.9.
{{Largest Jupiter trojans}}
Naming
This minor planet was named from Greek mythology after the Trojan warrior Prothoon, who was killed by Teucer during the Trojan War. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 January 2003 ({{small|M.P.C. 47300}}).
References
{{reflist|30em|refs=
|type = 2018-05-24 last obs.
|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 12444 Prothoon (1996 GE19)
|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012444
|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory
|access-date = 8 June 2018}}
|title = 12444 Prothoon (1996 GE19)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=12444
|access-date = 8 June 2018}}
|title = List of Jupiter Trojans
|work = Minor Planet Center
|date = 30 May 2018
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/JupiterTrojans.html
|access-date = 6 June 2018}}
|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
|access-date = 8 June 2018}}
|first1 = T. |last1 = Grav
|first2 = A. K. |last2 = Mainzer
|first3 = J. M. |last3 = Bauer
|first4 = J. R. |last4 = Masiero
|first5 = C. R. |last5 = Nugent
|date = November 2012
|title = WISE/NEOWISE Observations of the Jovian Trojan Population: Taxonomy
|journal = The Astrophysical Journal
|volume = 759
|issue = 1
|page = 10
|bibcode = 2012ApJ...759...49G
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/759/1/49
|arxiv = 1209.1549
|s2cid = 119101711
}} ([http://vizier.cfa.harvard.edu/viz-bin/VizieR-6?-source=J/ApJ/759/49/table1&MPC=12444 online catalog])
|title = Asteroid (12444) Prothoon – Proper elements
|publisher = AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site
|url = https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=12444&pc=1.1.6
|access-date = 8 June 2018}}
|title = Asteroid 12444 Prothoon
|work = Small Bodies Data Ferret
|url = https://sbntools.psi.edu/ferret/SimpleSearch/results.action?targetName=12444+Prothoon
|access-date = 8 June 2018
|archive-date = 12 June 2018
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144037/https://sbntools.psi.edu/ferret/SimpleSearch/results.action?targetName=12444+Prothoon
|url-status = dead
}}
|first1 = E. F. |last1 = Tedesco
|first2 = P. V. |last2 = Noah
|first3 = M. |last3 = Noah
|first4 = S. D. |last4 = Price
|date = October 2004
|title = IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0
|url = https://sbnarchive.psi.edu/pds3/iras/IRAS_A_FPA_3_RDR_IMPS_V6_0/data/diamalb.tab
|journal = NASA Planetary Data System – IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0
|volume = 12
|pages = IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0
|bibcode = 2004PDSS...12.....T
|access-date = 15 June 2018}}
|title = LCDB Data for (12444) Prothoon
|publisher = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
|url = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=12444%7CProthoon
|access-date = 8 June 2018}}
|display-authors = 6
|first1 = Fumihiko |last1 = Usui
|first2 = Daisuke |last2 = Kuroda
|first3 = Thomas G. |last3 = Müller
|first4 = Sunao |last4 = Hasegawa
|first5 = Masateru |last5 = Ishiguro
|first6 = Takafumi |last6 = Ootsubo
|first7 = Daisuke |last7 = Ishihara
|first8 = Hirokazu |last8 = Kataza
|first9 = Satoshi |last9 = Takita
|first10 = Shinki |last10 = Oyabu
|first11 = Munetaka |last11 = Ueno
|first12 = Hideo |last12 = Matsuhara
|first13 = Takashi |last13 = Onaka
|date = October 2011
|title = Asteroid Catalog Using Akari: AKARI/IRC Mid-Infrared Asteroid Survey
|journal = Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
|volume = 63
|issue = 5
|pages = 1117–1138
|bibcode = 2011PASJ...63.1117U
|doi = 10.1093/pasj/63.5.1117
|doi-access= free
}} ([http://vizier.cfa.harvard.edu/viz-bin/VizieR-5?-source=J/PASJ/63/1117/acua_v1&Num=12444 online], [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/43545172.pdf AcuA catalog p. 153])
|first1 = Linda M. |last1 = French
|first2 = Robert D. |last2 = Stephens
|first3 = Daniel R. |last3 = Coley
|first4 = Ralph |last4 = Megna
|first5 = Lawrence H. |last5 = Wasserman
|date = July 2012
|title = Photometry of 17 Jovian Trojan Asteroids
|journal = The Minor Planet Bulletin
|volume = 39
|issue = 3
|pages = 183–187
|issn = 1052-8091
|bibcode = 2012MPBu...39..183F
}}
|display-authors = 6
|first1 = Peter |last1 = Veres
|first2 = Robert |last2 = Jedicke
|first3 = Alan |last3 = Fitzsimmons
|first4 = Larry |last4 = Denneau
|first5 = Mikael |last5 = Granvik
|first6 = Bryce |last6 = Bolin
|first7 = Serge |last7 = Chastel
|first8 = Richard J. |last8 = Wainscoat
|first9 = William S. |last9 = Burgett
|first10 = Kenneth C. |last10 = Chambers
|first11 = Heather |last11 = Flewelling
|first12 = Nick |last12 = Kaiser
|first13 = Eugen A. |last13 = Magnier
|first14 = Jeff S. |last14 = Morgan
|first15 = Paul A. |last15 = Price
|first16 = John L. |last16 = Tonry
|first17 = Christopher |last17 = Waters
|date = November 2015
|title = Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results
|journal = Icarus
|volume = 261
|pages = 34–47
|bibcode = 2015Icar..261...34V
|doi = 10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007
|arxiv = 1506.00762
|s2cid = 53493339 }}
}}
External links
- [http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/lcdbsummaryquery.php Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)], query form ([http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216050541/http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html |date=16 December 2017 }})
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=aeAg1X7afOoC&pg Dictionary of Minor Planet Names], Google books
- [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs010001.html Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (10001)-(15000)] – Minor Planet Center
- {{AstDys|12444}}
- {{JPL small body}}
{{Minor planets navigator |12443 Paulsydney |number=12444 |12445 Sirataka}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prothoon}}