Discovered by James C. Watson Observation arc 142.50 yr (52049 d) Discovered 13 June 1873 Named after Aethra | Discovery date 13 June 1873 Aphelion 3.6250 AU (542.29 Gm) Discovery site Detroit Observatory | |
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Alternative names A922 XB; 1949 MD; 1953 LF Similar 161 Athor, 193 Ambrosia, 188 Menippe, 174 Phaedra, 276 Adelheid | ||
132 Aethra is an M-type main-belt asteroid. It has a rather eccentric orbit that sometimes brings it closer to the Sun than the planet Mars. It was discovered by James Craig Watson in 1873 and is the first such Mars-crosser asteroid to be identified. As a Mars-crosser asteroid, Aethra is the lowest numbered asteroid to not have proper orbital elements due to recurring perturbations by Mars.
With an original observation arc of only 22 days, 132 Aethra was a lost asteroid between 1873 and 1922.
The varying light curve of the asteroid implies an elongated or irregular shape for its body.
It is named after Aethra, the mother of Theseus in Greek mythology.
References
132 Aethra Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA