16 Psyche

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Minor Planet 16 Psyche (sye'-kee) is the 13th-largest Main belt asteroid, measuring 250 kilometers in diameter.

It was discovered by Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852 from Naples and named after the Greek nymph Psyche.

Spectral and other analyses indicate a fairly pure iron-nickel composition. Psyche and other class M asteroids originate from the metallic core of a large differentiated planetesimal similar to asteroid 4 Vesta.

Psyche is massive enough that its perturbations on other asteroids can be measured, which enables accurate mass and density values. Its density turns out to be extremely low, indicating extreme porosity or (less likely) a non-metallic composition. In other words, the asteroid is probably a gigantic rubble pile. (1)

Only one stellar occultation event by Psyche has so far been observed (from Mexico on March 22, 2002). Lightcurve variations indicate a non-spherical body.

Aspects

Stationary, retrograde	Opposition	Distance to Earth (AU)	Maximum brightness (mag)	Stationary, prograde	Conjunction to Sun
June 17 2004	August 3 2004	1.70357	9.3	September 20 2004	March 31 2005
October 21 2005	December 7 2005	1.67142	9.3	January 22 2006	July 27 2006
January 10 2007	March 3 2007	2.23204	10.3	April 25 2007	October 9 2007
March 17 2008	May 8 2008	2.25384	10.4	July 3 2008	December 17 2008
June 17 2009	August 4 2009	1.70095	9.3	September 20 2009	April 1 2010
October 21 2010	December 7 2010	1.67389	9.4	January 23 2011	July 28 2011
January 10 2012	March 2 2012	2.23359	10.3	April 25 2012	October 9 2012
March 17 2013	May 9 2013	2.25241	10.4	July 4 2013	December 17 2013
June 18 2014	August 5 2014	1.69830	9.3	September 21 2014	April 2 2015
October 22 2015	December 8 2015	1.67645	9.4	January 24 2016	July 27 2016
January 10 2017	March 3 2017	2.23511	10.3	April 25 2017	October 9 2017
March 18 2018	May 9 2018	2.25100	10.4	July 5 2018	December 18 2018
June 19 2019	August 6 2019	1.69560	9.3	September 22 2019	April 2 2020
October 21 2020	December 8 2020	1.67900	9.4	January 23 2021	July 28 2021

Template:MinorPlanets Navigator

The minor planetsedit

Vulcanoids | Near-Earth asteroids | Main belt | Jupiter Trojans | Centaurs | Damocloids | Comets | Trans-Neptunians (Kuiper belt · Scattered disc · Oort cloud)

For other objects and regions, see: asteroid groups and families, binary asteroids, asteroid moons and the Solar system For a complete listing, see: List of asteroids. See also Pronunciation of asteroid names and Meanings of asteroid names.

de:Psyche (Asteroid)

es:(16) Psiquis fr:(16) Psyché it:16 Psyche ja:プシケ (小惑星) nn:16 Psyche pl:16 Psyche sk:16 Psyche