A New Satellite of 4337 Arecibo Detected and Confirmed by stellar Occultation
Abstract
Two observers in Australia, at two separate sites observed asteroid 4337 Arecibo occult UCAC4 323-126197 and both observers observed a hitherto unknown satellite of the asteroid occult the same star shortly afterwards. Confirmation of the existence of the satellite occurred 20.71 days after the first observation, when two observers in California, at two separate sites observed 4337 Arecibo occult UCAC4 322-116848, and both observers observed the satellite occult the same star shortly afterwards. A third occultation, 20.78 days later, of UCAC4 323- 113857 was observed at 3 sites in California however the satellite was not detected. We find the diameter of the main body is 24.4 +/- 0.6 km and the satellite is 13.0 +/- 1.5 km - assuming they are spherical. Their separations at the two occultations were: 2021 May 19.74861: 25.5 ±1.0 mas in PA 105.2° ±1.0°. 2021 June 9.45736: 32.8 ±0.7 mas in PA 94.3° ±2.7°. We find the center of mass of the system is displaced from the main body by about 14% of the distance between the two bodies. However, our observations are insufficient to fix the orbit parameters.
- Publication:
-
Minor Planet Bulletin
- Pub Date:
- January 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022MPBu...49....3G
- Keywords:
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- Minor Planets;
- Asteroids;
- Light Curves;
- Photometry;
- Periods