348 May

{{Short description|Main-belt asteroid}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox planet

| minorplanet = yes

| background = #D6D6D6

| name = 348 May

| discoverer = Auguste Charlois

| discovered = 28 November 1892

|image= Орбита астероида 348.png

|caption=Orbital diagram

| mpc_name = (348) May

| pronounced = {{IPA|de|ˈmaɪ|lang}}

| alt_names = 1892 R

| mp_category = Main belt

| epoch = 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)

| semimajor = {{Convert|2.96944|AU|Gm|abbr=on}}

| perihelion = {{Convert|2.76919|AU|Gm|abbr=on}}

| aphelion = {{Convert|3.16969|AU|Gm|abbr=on|lk=on}}

| eccentricity = 0.067437

| period = {{convert|1869.0|days|years|2|order=flip|abbr=on}}

|named_after=Probably Karl MaySchmadel, L. (2003:44). Dictionary of minor planet names. Germany: Springer.

| inclination = 9.74506°

| asc_node = 90.0424°

| arg_peri = 13.4397°

| mean_anomaly = 21.8117°

| dimensions = {{val|82.82|2.2|ul=km}}

| mass = {{convert|4.76e-10|solar mass|kg|disp=out}}

| density = {{val|2.09|0.05|u=g cm⁻³}}

| rotation = {{Convert|7.3812|h|d|abbr=on|lk=on}}

| spectral_type =

| abs_magnitude = 9.40

| albedo = {{val|0.0448|0.002}}

| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.192616|sup=ms}} / day

| orbit_ref =

| observation_arc = {{convert|45056|days|years|2|order=flip|abbr=on}}

| uncertainty = 0

}}

348 May is a large Main belt asteroid. It was discovered by Auguste Charlois on 28 November 1892 in Nice, and was named for the German author Karl May. This asteroid is orbiting the Sun at a distance of {{val|2.97|ul=AU}} with a period of {{convert|1869.0|days|years|2|disp=out|abbr=off}} and an eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.067. The orbital plane is inclined at an angle of 9.7° to the plane of the ecliptic. During its orbit, this asteroid has made close approaches to the dwarf planet Ceres. For example, in September 1984 the two were separated by {{convert|0.042|AU|Gm|order=flip|abbr=on}}.

Analysis of the asteroid light curve generated from photometric data collected during 2007 provided a rotation period of {{val|7.385|0.004|u=hours}} with a brightness variation of {{val|0.16|0.03}} in magnitude. This is consistent with an estimate from a 2006 study. It is classified as a G-type asteroid and spans a diameter of approximately 83 km.