Discovered by G. Neujmin MPC designation 1236 Thais Discovered 6 November 1931 Orbits Sun Discovery site Simeiz Observatory | Discovery date 6 November 1931 Minor planet category main-belt · (inner) Absolute magnitude 11.93 Discoverer Grigory Neujmin Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Named after Thaïs
(ancient Greek hetaira) Alternative names 1931 VX · 1957 LQ
1964 JH · 1965 WA Similar Asteroid belt, Sun, 951 Gaspra, 824 Anastasia, 847 Agnia | ||
1236 Thaïs, provisional designation 1931 VX, is a rare type of asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 18 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 6 November 1931, by Soviet astronomer Grigory Neujmin at Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula.
Thaïs is a dark and reddish T-type asteroid. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.8–3.0 AU once every 3 years and 9 months (1,386 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 13° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory one month after its official discovery observation, as no precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made.
As of 2017, the only existing light-curve of Thaïs gives a rotation period of 72 hours with a brightness variation of 0.08 magnitude (U=1). The fragmentary light curve was obtained by Austrian astronomers from photoelectric observations in the early 1980s.
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Thaïs measures between 14.43 and 22.34 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo between 0.06 and 0.11. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link adopts the results obtained by IRAS, that is, an albedo of 0.0599 and a diameter of 22.34 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 11.93.
This minor planet was named after Thaïs, the famous Greek hetaera (ancient prostitute), who lived during the time of Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) and accompanied him on his campaigns. It is also the name of the protagonist in the novel Thaïs by French poet Anatole France.