1739 Meyermann: A Stony Florian Asteroid in the Inner Belt
1739 Meyermann, provisionally designated 1939 PF, is a stony Florian asteroid located in the inner regions of the asteroid belt. With a diameter of approximately 7.5 kilometers, it was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory on 15 August 1939. The asteroid is named in memory of the esteemed astronomer Bruno Meyermann.
Orbit and Classification
Meyermann is classified as a member of the Flora family, which comprises a large group of S-type asteroids in the inner main-belt. It orbits the Sun at a distance ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 AU, completing one orbit every 3 years and 5 months (or 1,242 days). The asteroid’s orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic plane. Notably, Meyermann was first identified as 1929 TB1 at Lowell Observatory in 1929, extending its observation arc by 10 years before its official discovery at Heidelberg.
Rotation Period
Photometric observations conducted by Czech astronomer Petr Pravec at Ondřejov Observatory in 2007 and 2014 resulted in two rotational lightcurves. These observations indicated a rotation period of approximately 2.8212 to 2.8219 hours, with brightness variations of 0.12 and 0.17 magnitude, respectively. The classification of these observations is noted as U=3/3.
Diameter and Albedo
According to data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE missions) from 2014, Meyermann has a diameter of 7.858 kilometers and a surface albedo of 0.254. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.24 (derived from the largest member of the Flora family, 8 Flora) and calculates a diameter of 7.47 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.8.
Naming
This minor planet was named in honor of Bruno Meyermann (1876–1963), a classical astronomer and academic teacher at Göttingen Observatory in Lower Saxony, Germany. His research interests included polar motion and relativistic effects. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 18 April 1977 (M.P.C. 4155).
References
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