2032 Ethel, provisional designation 1970 OH, is a dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 36 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 30 July 1970, by Soviet astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj, on the Crimean peninsula.[6] The asteroid was named after Irish writer Ethel Voynich.[2]

2032 Ethel
Discovery [1]
Discovered byT. Smirnova
Discovery siteCrimean Astrophysical Obs.
Discovery date30 July 1970
Designations
(2032) Ethel
Named after
Ethel Voynich
(Irish writer)[2]
1970 OH · 1952 DU
1960 WM · 1965 UG1
1971 UD3
main-belt · (outer)
background[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc65.18 yr (23,807 days)
Aphelion3.4615 AU
Perihelion2.6831 AU
3.0723 AU
Eccentricity0.1267
5.39 yr (1,967 days)
269.94°
0° 10m 58.8s / day
Inclination1.5097°
30.178°
295.71°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions36.007±0.105 km[4]
0.034±0.005[5]
11.4[1]

Orbit and classification

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Ethel is a non-family asteroid of the main belt's background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.7–3.5 AU once every 5 years and 5 months (1,967 days; semi-major axis 3.07 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins with it identification as 1952 DU at Goethe Link Observatory in February 1952, more than 18 years prior to its official discovery observation Nauchnyj.[6]

Physical characteristics

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Diameter and albedo

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Ethel measures 36.007 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.034.[4][5]

Rotation period

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As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Ethel has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[1][7]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after Ethel Lilian Voynich (1864–1960), an Irish writer of the late Victorian epoch, best known for her novel The Gadfly.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 September 1978 (M.P.C. 4482).[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2032 Ethel (1970 OH)" (2017-05-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2032) Ethel". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2032) Ethel. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 165. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2033. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid 2032 Ethel – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121.
  5. ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Nugent, C.; et al. (November 2012). "Preliminary Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-cryogenic Observations of Main Belt Asteroids". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 759 (1): 5. arXiv:1209.5794. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759L...8M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L8. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b "2032 Ethel (1970 OH)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  7. ^ "LCDB Data for (2032) Ethel". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN 978-3-642-01964-7.
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