Discovered by H. Debehogne MPC designation 2590 Mourao Observation arc 66.72 yr (24,371 days) Orbits Sun Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 22 May 1980 Discovered 22 May 1980 | |
Alternative names 1980 KJ · 1949 WP1963 SM · 1974 UN1974 VG2 · 1974 XK Named after Ronaldo Rogério de Freitas Mourão (astronomer) | ||
2590 Mourão, provisional designation 1980 kJ, is a bright Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 May 1980, by Belgian astronomer Henri Debehogne at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.1–2.6 AU once every 3 years and 7 months (1,309 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic. Based on its orbital elements, the V-type asteroid is not classified as a Vestian, but as a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of asteroids in the main-belt. V-type asteroids are less common than the abundant S-type asteroids but similar in composition, except for their higher concentration of pyroxenes, an aluminium-rich silicate mineral.
According to the survey carried out by the WISE and subsequent NEOWISE mission, the body's albedo amounts to 0.61, while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a somewhat less extraordinary value of 0.4. Photometric observations of this asteroid by Slovak astronomer Adrián Galád in September 2006, gave a rotational light-curve with a rotation period of 7001155900000000000♠15.59±0.01 hours and a brightness variation of 6999490000000000000♠0.49 magnitude (U=3). A second, less secure light-curve was obtained by Italian astronomers Roberto Crippa and Federico Manzini in September 2013, which gave a divergent period of 7001355200000000000♠35.52 hours with an amplitude of 0.46 magnitude (U=2).
The minor planet was named in honor of Brazilian astronomer Ronaldo Rogério de Freitas Mourão (1935–2014) at the National Observatory of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro. His activities included the study of double stars, minor planets and comets. He participated extensively in ESO's discoverer program of observations of minor planets. Mourão also wrote several astronomical books and was the founder of the Brazilian Museum for Astronomy (Portuguese: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins). Naming citation was published on 2 July 1985 (M.P.C. 9767).