2278 Götz

2278 Götz, provisional designation 1953 GE, is a dark background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt's background population, approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 7 April 1953, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany.[1] The F/C-type asteroid was named after astronomer Paul Götz.[2]

2278 Götz
Discovery [1]
Discovered byK. Reinmuth
Discovery siteHeidelberg Obs.
Discovery date7 April 1953
Designations
(2278) Götz
Named after
Paul Götz
(German astronomer)[2]
1953 GE · 1953 GR1
1976 GE2 · 1976 JG
main-belt[1][3] · (inner)
background [4][5]
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc65.12 yr (23,784 d)
Aphelion2.8190 AU
Perihelion2.0867 AU
2.4528 AU
Eccentricity0.1493
3.84 yr (1,403 d)
284.69°
0° 15m 23.76s / day
Inclination4.2036°
53.419°
207.18°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
11.769±0.057 km[6]
0.039±0.009[6]
Tholen = FC [3]
B–V = 0.634[3]
U–B = 0.229[3]
13.5[1][3]

    Orbit and classification

    Götz is non-family asteroid of the main belt's background population (formerly being classified as a member of the Nysa family by Zappala).[4][5] It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.1–2.8 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,403 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[3]

    The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Heidelberg. Simultaneously, the asteroid was also observed at the Almaty Observatory in Kazakhstan (210).[1]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named in memory of Paul Götz (1883–1962), a German astronomer and discoverer of minor planets, who was the first assistant of Max Wolf at Heidelberg in the early 1900s, using the observatory's Bruce telescope and 0.15-meter astrograph.[2] The official naming citation was proposed and prepared by G. Klare and L. D. Schmadel and was published by the Minor Planet Center on 27 June 1991 (M.P.C. 18447).[2][7]

    Physical characteristics

    In the Tholen classification, the asteroid has an ambiguous spectral type, closest to the F-type and somewhat similar to the carbonaceous C-type asteroid.[3]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Götz measures 11.769 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.039.[6]

    Rotation period

    As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Götz has been obtained from photometric observations since its discovery in 1953. The asteroid's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[3][8]

    References
    1. "2278 Gotz (1953 GE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2278) Götz". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2278) Götz. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 185. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2279. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2278 Gotz (1953 GE)" (2018-05-20 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    4. "Asteroid (2278) Gotz – Proper elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    5. "Small Bodies Data Ferret". Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    6. Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    8. "LCDB Data for (2278) Götz". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 September 2017.

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