Discovered by C.-I. Lagerkvist MPC designation 2114 Wallenquist Observation arc 63.35 yr (23,140 days) Orbits Sun Named after Åke Wallenquist | Discovery date 19 April 1976 Discovered 19 April 1976 | |
Alternative names 1976 HA · 1930 DG1942 LD · 1953 GZ1964 FA · 1970 EO31970 EZ2 Similar 2127 Tanya, 2100 Ra‑Shalom, 2101 Adonis, Sun, 1980 Tezcatlipoca | ||
2114 Wallenquist, provisional designation 1976 HA, is a Themistian asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 28 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Swedish astronomer Claes-Ingvar Lagerkvist at the Australian Mount Stromlo Observatory near Canberra, on 19 April 1976.
The asteroid is a member of the Themis family, a dynamical family of outer-belt asteroids with nearly coplanar ecliptical orbits. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 9 months (2,089 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.14 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. The first used observation was made at the U.S. Goethe Link Observatory in 1953, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 23 years prior to its discovery.
In April 2010, a rotational light-curve obtained at the U.S. Goat Mountain Astronomical Research Station (GMARS), California, rendered a well-defined rotation period of 7000551000000000000♠5.510±0.005 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.22 in magnitude (U=3). Two other observations, by French astronomer René Roy at Blauvac Observatory, France, and by astronomers at the U.S. Palomar Transient Factory gave a period of 7000549000000000000♠5.49±0.01 and 7000550779999999999♠5.5078±0.0009, with an amplitude of 0.30 and 0.23, respectively (U=2/2).
According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the asteroid measures between 21.1 and 27.6 kilometers in diameter while its surface has an albedo in the range of 0.08 and 0.15. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) derives an even lower albedo of 0.04 and calculates a diameter of 27.5 kilometer. Despite its low albedo, CALL classifies the body as a S-type rather than a darker C-type asteroid.
The minor planet was named in honor of Swedish astronomer Åke Wallenquist (1904–1994), former director of the Kvistaberg Station, after which the minor planet 3331 Kvistaberg is named. After his retirement he continued to research dark matter in open clusters at the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory. Wallenquist co-discovered the near-Earth Amor asteroid 1980 Tezcatlipoca during his stay at the U.S. Palomar Observatory in 1950. Naming citation was published before November 1977 (M.P.C. 4645).