306 Unitas
Encyclopedia
306 Unitas is a typical main belt
asteroid
. It is classified as an S-type asteroid
.
It was discovered by Elia Millosevich
on March 1, 1891 in Rome
. The asteroid was named by the director of the Modena Observatory in honor of the Italian astronomer Angelo Secchi
.
In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide gathered lightcurve data that was ultimately used to derive the spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including (306) Unitas. Lightcurve data has also been recorded by observers at the Antelope Hill Observatory, which has been designated as an official observatory by the Minor Planet Center
.
Although 306 Unitas has an orbit similar to the Vesta family
asteroids, it was found to be an unrelated interloper on the basis of its non-matching spectral type
.
Asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...
asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
. It is classified as an S-type asteroid
S-type asteroid
S-type asteroids are of a stony composition, hence the name. Approximately 17% of asteroids are of this type, making it the second most common after the C-type.-Characteristics:...
.
It was discovered by Elia Millosevich
Elia Millosevich
Elia Filippo Francesco Giuseppe Maria Millosevich , was an Italian astronomer.He specialized in calculating the orbits of comets and asteroids, in particular 433 Eros....
on March 1, 1891 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The asteroid was named by the director of the Modena Observatory in honor of the Italian astronomer Angelo Secchi
Angelo Secchi
-External links:...
.
In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide gathered lightcurve data that was ultimately used to derive the spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including (306) Unitas. Lightcurve data has also been recorded by observers at the Antelope Hill Observatory, which has been designated as an official observatory by the Minor Planet Center
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory , which is part of the Center for Astrophysics along with the Harvard College Observatory ....
.
Although 306 Unitas has an orbit similar to the Vesta family
Vesta family
The Vesta or Vestian family of asteroids is a large and prominent grouping of mostly V-type asteroids in the inner asteroid belt in the vicinity of 4 Vesta...
asteroids, it was found to be an unrelated interloper on the basis of its non-matching spectral type
Asteroid spectral types
Asteroids are assigned a type based on spectral shape, color, and sometimes albedo. These types are thought to correspond to an asteroid's surface composition...
.