Discovered by A. Kopff MPC designation 3687 Dzus Discovered 7 October 1908 Orbits Sun Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 7 October 1908 Minor planet category main-belt · (middle) Absolute magnitude 11.5 | |
Named after Paul K. Dzus(MPC volunteer) Alternative names A908 TC · 1952 HM31970 GD2 · 1980 TO81980 TX · 1984 NC Similar Sun, 614 Pia, 596 Scheila, 617 Patroclus, 624 Hektor | ||
3687 Dzus, provisional designation A908 TC, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 31 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by German astronomer August Kopff at Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory on 7 October 1908.
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.2–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,646 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.20 and an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic. As no precoveries were taken, the asteroid's observation arc begins with its discovery observation in 1908.
The C-type asteroid is classified as a Ch subtype in the SMASS taxonomy. According to the 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 28.6 and 34.5 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.038 and 0.054. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link agrees with the results obtained by IRAS; that is an albedo of 0.038 and a diameter of 28.6 kilometers, based on an absolute magnitude of 11.5.
A fragmentary light-curve was obtained from photometric observations made by Robert D. Stephens at the Santana Observatory (646) in Rancho Cucamonga, California, during April to June 2002. It showed a rotation period of 7000744000000000000♠7.44±0.01 hours with a brightness variation of 6999250000000000000♠0.25±0.04 in magnitude during each rotation (U=1).
It was named by Brian Geoffrey Marsden, long-time director of the Minor Planet Center, in honor of Paul K. Dzus (b. 1969) in appreciation of his helpful assistance since October 1987, much of the time as a volunteer. Naming citation was published on 23 December 1988 (M.P.C. 14029).