1299 Mertona
1299 Mertona (prov. designation: 1934 BA) is a bright background asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 18 January 1934, by French astronomer Guy Reiss at Algiers Observatory, Algeria, in northern Africa. The likely stony asteroid with an unknown spectral type has a rotation period of 5.0 hours and measures approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) in diameter. It was named after English astronomer Gerald Merton.
Modelled shape of Mertona, from its lightcurve | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | G. Reiss |
| Discovery site | Algiers Obs. |
| Discovery date | 18 January 1934 |
| Designations | |
MPC designation | (1299) Mertona |
Named after | Gerald Merton (English astronomer) |
Alternative designations | 1934 BA |
Minor planet category | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 82.85 yr (30,260 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.3325 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.2706 AU |
Semi-major axis | 2.8016 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.1895 |
Orbital period (sidereal) | 4.69 yr (1,713 days) |
Mean anomaly | 328.61° |
Mean motion | 0° 12m 36.72s / day |
| Inclination | 7.8754° |
Longitude of ascending node | 165.61° |
| 260.44° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 14.140±0.322 km 14.90±1.23 km |
Synodic rotation period | 4.977±0.003 h |
Pole ecliptic latitude | (73.0°, 35.0°) (λ1/β1) |
| 0.219±0.038 0.243±0.033 | |
| unknown | |
| 11.277±0.002 (R) · 11.4 · 11.5 | |
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