3556 Lixiaohua
Shape model of Lixiaohua from its lightcurve
Discovery [1]
Discovered byPurple Mountain Obs.
Discovery sitePurple Mountain Obs.
Discovery date30 October 1964
Designations
(3556) Lixiaohua
Named after
Li Xiaohua
(Chinese philanthropist)[2]
1964 UO · 1981 YT1
main-belt · (outer)
Lixiaohua/Gantrisch [3][4]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc52.49 yr (19,173 days)
Aphelion3.8577 AU
Perihelion2.4883 AU
3.1730 AU
Eccentricity0.2158
5.65 yr (2,064 days)
169.06°
0° 10m 27.84s / day
Inclination9.2364°
240.89°
143.70°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
20.085±0.036 km[5]
0.035±0.004[5]
12.8[1]

    3556 Lixiaohua (prov. designation: 1964 UO) is a dark Lixiaohua asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) in diameter. It is the parent body of the Lixiaohua family. The asteroid was discovered on 30 October 1964, by astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory near Nanking, China.[6] It was named after Chinese philanthropist Li Xiaohua.[2]

    Orbit and classification

    Lixiaohua is the parent body and namesake of the Lixiaohua family,[3][4] a smaller asteroid family of more than 700 known members which consists of C-type and X-type asteroid.[7]: 23  The family is located in a zone of the outer main-belt where several orbital resonance overlap. Members of this family are also prone to close encounters with other large asteroids such as with the dwarf planet Ceres.[8] With a diameter of 35 kilometers, the family's largest member is 3330 Gantrisch, which is the reason why the Lixiaohua family is often called "Gantrisch family". It is estimated that the family is 155±36 million years old.[8]

    It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.5–3.9 AU once every 5 years and 8 months (2,064 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.22 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Nankin in 1964.[6]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named after Chinese philanthropist and industrialist from Beijing, who establish several schools in remote areas of China.[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 5 January 1996 (M.P.C. 26424).[9]

    Physical characteristics

    Rotation period

    As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Lixiaohua has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remains unknown.[10]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Lixiaohua measures 20.085 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a low albedo of 0.035.[5]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 3556 Lixiaohua (1964 UO)" (2017-04-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3556) Lixiaohua". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 299. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3555. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. 1 2 "Asteroid 3556 Lixiaohua – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
    4. 1 2 "Asteroid 3556 Lixiaohua – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
    5. 1 2 3 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 5 September 2017.
    6. 1 2 "3556 Lixiaohua (1964 UO)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    7. ↑ Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 978-0-8165-3213-1.
    8. 1 2 Novaković, B.; Tsiganis, K.; Knezevic, Z. (June 2010). "Dynamical portrait of the Lixiaohua asteroid family" (PDF). Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy. 107 (1–2): 35–49. Bibcode:2010CeMDA.107...35N. doi:10.1007/s10569-010-9263-9.
    9. ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    10. ↑ "LCDB Data for (3556) Lixiaohua". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 September 2017.
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