Discovered by M. Itzigsohn MPC designation 1688 Wilkens Minor planet category main-belt · (middle) Absolute magnitude 12.5 Discoverer Miguel Itzigsohn | Discovery date 3 March 1951 Alternative names 1951 EQ1 · 1964 JC Discovered 3 March 1951 Orbits Sun Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Named after Alexander Wilkens (astronomer) Discovery site La Plata Astronomical Observatory People also search for Sun, 1800 Aguilar, 1801 Titicaca | ||
1688 Wilkens, provisional designation 1951 EQ1, is a stony asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 16 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 March 1951, by Argentine astronomer Miguel Itzigsohn at La Plata Observatory in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 3 months (1,547 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.of 2.0–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 3 months (1,547 days). Its orbit shows an eccentricity of 0.24 and is tilted by 12 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic. As no precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made, Wilkens' observation arc begins with its official discovery observation in 1951.
In July 2007, astronomer Lorenzo Franco obtained a rotational light-curve of Wilkens at the Balzaretto Observatory (A81) near Rome, Italy. It gave a well-defined period of 7.248 hours and a brightness variation of 0.23 magnitude (U=3). Photometric observations in the S-band at the Palomar Transient Factory in January 2014, gave a period of 7.3017 hours with an amplitude of 0.34 (U=2).
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Wilkens measures 16.23 and 16.82 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo of 0.044 and 0.066, respectively. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.10 and calculates a diameter of 12.12 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.7.
This minor planet was named for German astronomer Alexander Wilkens (1881–1968), researcher in many branches of astronomy, most notably celestial mechanics. After having worked for many years in Germany, he trained two generations of celestial mechanicians at the discovering La Plata Observatory before returning to his native country. Naming citation was published on 1 August 1980 (M.P.C. 5449).