Petit-Prince (moon)
Encyclopedia
Eugenia I Petit-Prince (pətipʁɛ̃s) is the larger, outer moon
of asteroid 45 Eugenia
. It was discovered in 1998 by astronomers at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
on Mauna Kea
, Hawaii. Initially, it received the provisional designation S/1998 (45) 1. Petit-Prince was the first asteroid moon
to be discovered with a ground-based telescope. Previously, the only known moon of an asteroid was Dactyl, discovered by the Galileo space probe, around 243 Ida
.
's son, the Prince Imperial
. However, they also intended an allusion to the children's book The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
, which is about a prince who lives on an asteroid.
In their submission of the name to the IAU
, the discovers justified the double meaning by arguing for similarities between the Prince Imperial and the Little Prince:
Asteroid moon
A minor planet moon is an astronomical body that orbits a minor planet as its natural satellite. It is thought that many asteroids and Kuiper belt objects may possess moons, in some cases quite substantial in size...
of asteroid 45 Eugenia
45 Eugenia
45 Eugenia is a large main-belt asteroid. It is famed as one of the first asteroids to be found to have a moon orbiting it. It is also the second known triple asteroid, after 87 Sylvia.- Discovery :...
. It was discovered in 1998 by astronomers at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
The Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope is located near the summit of Mauna Kea mountain on Hawaii's Big Island at an altitude of 4,204 meters , and is one of the observatories that comprise the Mauna Kea Observatory...
on Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
, Hawaii. Initially, it received the provisional designation S/1998 (45) 1. Petit-Prince was the first asteroid moon
Asteroid moon
A minor planet moon is an astronomical body that orbits a minor planet as its natural satellite. It is thought that many asteroids and Kuiper belt objects may possess moons, in some cases quite substantial in size...
to be discovered with a ground-based telescope. Previously, the only known moon of an asteroid was Dactyl, discovered by the Galileo space probe, around 243 Ida
243 Ida
243 Ida is an asteroid in the Koronis family of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 29 September 1884 by Johann Palisa and named after a nymph from Greek mythology. Later telescopic observations categorized Ida as an S-type asteroid, the most numerous type in the inner asteroid belt. On 28...
.
Characteristics
Petit-Prince is 13 km in diameter, compared to 45 Eugenia's 214 km. It takes five days to complete an orbit around Eugenia.Name
The discoverers chose the name in honour of Empress EugénieEugénie de Montijo
Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Augustina de Palafox-Portocarrero de Guzmán y Kirkpatrick, 16th Countess of Teba and 15th Marquise of Ardales; 5 May 1826 – 11 July 1920), known as Eugénie de Montijo , was the last Empress consort of the French from 1853 to 1871 as the wife of Napoleon III, Emperor of...
's son, the Prince Imperial
Napoléon Eugène, Prince Imperial
Napoléon, Prince Imperial, , Prince Imperial, Fils de France, was the only child of Emperor Napoleon III of France and his Empress consort Eugénie de Montijo...
. However, they also intended an allusion to the children's book The Little Prince
The Little Prince
The Little Prince , first published in 1943, is a novella and the most famous work of the French aristocrat writer, poet and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ....
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , officially Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint Exupéry , was a French writer, poet and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of France's highest literary awards, and in 1939 was the winner of the U.S. National Book Award...
, which is about a prince who lives on an asteroid.
In their submission of the name to the IAU
IAU
IAU may refer to:*International Astronomical Union*International American University*International American University College of Medicine*International Association of Universities*International Association of Ultrarunners...
, the discovers justified the double meaning by arguing for similarities between the Prince Imperial and the Little Prince:
- "Both princes were young and adventurous, and had little fear of danger. Both were of rather small stature. They both left the confines of their cozy little worlds (asteroid B612 for the Little Prince and ChislehurstChislehurstChislehurst is a suburban district in south-east London, England, and an electoral ward of the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
for the Prince Imperial). They both then undertook long journeys to end up in Africa, whereupon they both meet rather violent deaths ... And in both cases they lay alone for one night each after "death" and then "returned" back home..."
See also
- 2578 Saint-Exupéry2578 Saint-Exupéry2578 Saint-Exupéry is a small main belt asteroid, which was discovered by Tamara M. Smirnova on November 2, 1975. It is named after Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French aviator and writer. The name is appropriate, as Saint-Exupéry's best-known character, The Little Prince, lives on an asteroid.In...
- 46610 Bésixdouze46610 Besixdouze46610 Besixdouze is an asteroid belonging to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.It was formally pinpointed by Kin Endate and Kazuro Watanabe on October 15, 1993....
, named B-six-twelve in French (and whose number equals the hexadecimal number B612) - 612 Veronika612 Veronika612 Veronika is a minor planet orbiting the Sun. It was discovered on October 8, 1906 by August Kopff from Heidelberg. The reason for the name is unknown; asteroid etymologist Lutz D. Schmadel suspects that it may have been inspired by the letter code "VN" in its provisional designation, 1906...
External links
- Data sheet compiled by W. Robert Johnston
- IAUC 7503, announcing Petit-Prince's naming
- orbit details compiled by F. Marchis, includes diagrams