Discovered by E. F. Helin MPC designation 3988 Huma Minor planet category Amor · NEO Absolute magnitude 17.9 Discoverer Eleanor F. Helin Asteroid group Amor asteroid | Discovery date 4 June 1986 Alternative names 1986 LA Discovered 4 June 1986 Orbits Sun Discovery site Palomar Observatory | |
Named after Huma bird
(Iranian mythology) Similar Sun, Solar System, 3552 Don Quixote, 3671 Dionysus, 4015 Wilson–Harrington | ||
3988 Huma, provisional designation 1986 LA, is an eccentric asteroid classified as a near-Earth object of the Amor group of asteroids, approximately 0.8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 June 1986, by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at Palomar Observatory, California.
The stony S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.1–2.0 AU once every 1 years and 11 months (701 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.32 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic. As no precoveries were taken, Huma's observation arc begins with its discovery observation at Palomar in 1986.
A rotational light-curve for this asteroid was obtained by American astronomer Brian A. Skiff in July 2011. It gave a rotation period of 7001104000000000000♠10.4±0.1 hours with a brightness variation of 0.24 magnitude (U=2+).
In the 1990s, Dutch–American astronomer Tom Gehrels estimated Huma to measure 0.7 kilometers in diameter, based on an assumed medium albedo of 0.15. More recently, the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumed a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculated a diameter of 0.78 kilometers.
The minor planet was named after the Huma bird from Iranian mythology and Sufi poetry. The mythological bird never alights on the ground, and its appearance in the sky is said to be a sign of fortune. The asteroid's name was suggested by the SGAC Name An Asteroid Campaign and its citation was published on 9 September 2014 (M.P.C. 89832).