Levasseur Asteroid: Characteristics of a Sizable Mars-Crosser
Levasseur is a notable member of the Phocaea family, a group of asteroids characterized by their specific orbital and spectral properties. Classified as a stony S-type asteroid, Levasseur shares the common spectral characteristics of its family, consisting primarily of silicate materials.
Key Facts
- Classification: S-type (stony) asteroid.
- Diameter: Approximately 5.68 km (NEOWISE) to 6.21 km (CALL).
- Rotation Period: Approximately 2.65 hours.
- Albedo: 0.239 (reflectivity of the surface).
- Category: Sizable Mars-crosser.
Rotation and Lightcurve Analysis
Determining the rotation of an asteroid involves analyzing its lightcurve—the variation in brightness as the object rotates and reflects sunlight. In December 2005, Donald Pray of the Carbuncle Hill Observatory, working with international observers, recorded a rotation period of 2.6529 ± 0.0003 hours, with a brightness variation of 0.14 ± 0.02 magnitude.
Further observations in April 2010 by David Higgins at the Hunters Hill Observatory and Petr Pravec at the Ondřejov Observatory confirmed these findings. Their analyses yielded periods of 2.6528 ± 0.0004 and 2.6531 ± 0.0002 hours, with amplitudes of 0.13 and 0.09, respectively. While Levasseur is not considered a fast rotator, its speed is close to the cohesionless spin-barrier of 2.2 hours, the theoretical limit beyond which an asteroid without internal strength would fly apart.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]
Physical Dimensions and Reflectivity
The size and surface properties of Levasseur have been estimated using different methodologies. Data from NASA's NEOWISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission, which specifically surveyed Mars-crossing asteroids, indicates a diameter of 5.68 kilometers and an albedo—the measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects—of 0.239.
Alternatively, the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) uses a standard albedo of 0.20 for stony asteroids. Based on an absolute magnitude of 13.4, CALL calculates a slightly larger diameter of 6.21 kilometers.
Levasseur Among Mars-Crossers
Levasseur is categorized as a "sizable" Mars-crosser, a group of asteroids with diameters between 5 and 15 kilometers. While it is on the smaller end of this specific bracket, it belongs to a distinct dynamical group of objects that cross the orbit of Mars.
The following table compares Levasseur with other notable Mars-crossers to provide perspective on its scale.
| Asteroid Name | Approximate Diameter (km) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Levasseur | 5.68 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 1727 Mette | 5.44 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 1235 Schorria | 5.55 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 1468 Zomba | 7.00 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 1065 Amundsenia | 9.75 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 1474 Beira | 15.46 | Sizable (5–15 km) |
| 132 Aethra | >20 | Large |
| 512 Taurinensis | >20 | Large |
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of asteroid is Levasseur?
Levasseur is an S-type (stony) asteroid and a member of the Phocaea family.
How fast does Levasseur rotate?
Levasseur has a rotation period of approximately 2.65 hours, which is near the 2.2-hour cohesionless spin-barrier.
What is the estimated size of Levasseur?
Depending on the source, its diameter is estimated to be 5.68 kilometers (NEOWISE) or 6.21 kilometers (CALL).
What does it mean to be a Mars-crosser?
A Mars-crosser is an asteroid whose orbit intersects the orbit of the planet Mars.
What is the albedo of Levasseur?
According to the NEOWISE mission, Levasseur has an albedo of 0.239, indicating its surface reflectivity.