Discovered by N. Chernykh MPC designation 2207 Antenor Aphelion 5.23 m Spectral type D-type asteroid Named after Antenor (Greek mythology) | Discovery date 19 August 1977 Discovered 19 August 1977 Orbits Sun Discoverer Nikolai Chernykh | |
Pronunciation ænˈtiːnɔːr (an-tee'-nor) Alternative names 1977 QH1 · 1959 EM
1971 BE1 · 1978 UU Minor planet category Jupiter trojan
(Trojan camp) Discovery site Crimean Astrophysical Observatory | ||
2207 Antenor (an-TEE'-nor), provisional designation 1977 QH1, is a rare-type Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 85 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 August 1977, by Russian astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj on the Crimean peninsula.
The dark and reddish body is classified as a D-type asteroid in the Tholen taxonomic scheme. This spectral type is rather rare with only 46 bodies known as of 2016. The Jupiter trojan is orbiting in the trailering Trojan camp, at Jupiter's L5 Lagrangian point, 60° behind its orbit (see Trojans in astronomy). It orbits the Sun at a distance of 5.1–5.2 AU once every 11 years and 8 months (4,258 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.02 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic. The asteroid's observation arc begins with its discovery in 1977. The first unused precoveries were taken at Lowell Observatory and the discovering observatory in 1959 and 1971, respectively.
Photometric observations of this asteroid were taken in October 1989, by astronomers Mario Di Martino and Maria Gonano–Beurer with the now decommissioned ESO 1-metre telescope at La Silla, Chile. The light-curve built from these observations showed a rotation period of 7000796500000000000♠7.965±0.002 hours with a brightness variation of 6998900000000000000♠0.09±0.01 magnitude (U=2+). Two rotational light-curves in the R and S-band were obtained at the Palomar Transient Factory in September 2012, which rendered a period of 7000796560000000000♠7.9656±0.0103 and 7000796040000000000♠7.9604±0.0103 hours with and amplitude of 0.12 and 0.15, respectively (U=2/2). The most recent observation by Robert Stephens at CS3 in February 2016, gave a period of 7000790600000000000♠7.906±0.009 hours with an amplitude of 0.09 (U=n.a.).
According to the space-based 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, the asteroid measures between 85.1 and 97.7 kilometers in diameter and has an albedo of 0.051–0.068. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link adopts the results obtain by the 9 observations made by IRAS, that is a diameter of 85.1 kilometer and an albedo of 0.068.
The minor planet is named after Antenor, one of the wisest of the elders and counselor of King Priam of Troy. Sympathetic to a negotiated peace with the Greeks, he advised his countrymen to return Helen of Troy to Menelaus during the Trojan War. In later accounts Antenor was made an open traitor, who unsealed the gates of Troy to the Greek enemy. Naming citation was published on 1 March 1981 (M.P.C. 5849). The minor planets 884 Priamus, 101 Helena and 1647 Menelaus are also named after these figures from Greek mythology.