| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Indiana University (Indiana Asteroid Program) |
| Discovery site | Goethe Link Obs. |
| Discovery date | 3 October 1953 |
| Designations | |
| (1721) Wells | |
Named after | Herman Wells (Indiana University)[2] |
| 1953 TD3 · 1944 DA 1958 QE · A905 CG | |
| main-belt · (outer) | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 112.13 yr (40,957 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.2969 AU |
| Perihelion | 3.0049 AU |
| 3.1509 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0463 |
| 5.59 yr (2,043 days) | |
| 101.64° | |
| Inclination | 16.107° |
| 317.29° | |
| 137.52° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 43.576±0.166 km[3] |
| 0.045±0.005[3] | |
| 10.9[1] | |
1721 Wells, provisional designation 1953 TD3, is a dark asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 44 kilometers in diameter.
It was discovered on 3 October 1953, by IU's Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, United States.[4] It was named after UI's president and chancellor Herman B Wells.[2]
Orbit and classification
Wells orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 3.0–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 7 months (2,043 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
First identified as A905 CG at Heidelberg in 1905, Well's first used observation was taken at Turku in 1944, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 9 years prior to its official discovery observation.[4]
Physical characteristics
According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Wells measures 43.576 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.045.[3] It has an absolute magnitude of 10.9.[1] As of 2017, Well's spectral type, rotation period and shape remain unknown.
Naming
This minor planet was named in honor of Herman B Wells (1902–2000), chancellor and president and of Indiana University, who has transformed Indiana University from a provincial college into a world-renowned institution of higher learning. During this time, Wells also fostered higher education nationally and internationally.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 15 June 1973 (M.P.C. 3508).[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1721 Wells (1953 TD3)" (2017-03-30 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1721) Wells". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1721) Wells. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 137. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1722. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- 1 2 3 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. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- 1 2 "1721 Wells (1953 TD3)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2009). "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.
External links
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
- 1721 Wells at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 1721 Wells at the JPL Small-Body Database