Discovered by J. Comas Solà MPC designation 1708 Pólit Discovered 30 November 1929 Orbits Sun | Discovery date 30 November 1929 Minor planet category main-belt · (outer) Absolute magnitude 11.8 Discoverer Josep Comas i Solà Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Named after Isidre Pòlit(astronomer) Alternative names 1929 XA · 1934 XF1939 YB Similar 1102 Pepita, 1188 Gothlandia, Sun, Asteroid belt, 10 Hygiea | ||
1708 Pólit, provisional designation 1929 XA, is a dark and eccentric asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, about 29 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Spanish astronomer of Catalan origin Josep Comas i Solà at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona on 30 November 1929.
The C-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–3.8 AU once every 4.97 years (1,817 days). Its orbit shows a high eccentricity of 0.31 and is inclined by 6 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic. Light-curve observations gave a rotation period of 7.520 hours. The carbonaceous asteroid has a low geometric albedo of about 0.04.
The asteroid was named in memory of the Fabra Observatory's second director of the astronomical section, Isidre Pòlit i Boixareu (1880–1958), who was an assiduous observer of minor planets and comets.