Discovered by E. Helin MPC designation 4222 Nancita Discovered 13 March 1988 Orbits Sun Discovery site Palomar Observatory | Discovery date 13 March 1988 Minor planet category main-belt · (inner) Absolute magnitude 12.4 Discoverer Eleanor F. Helin Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Named after Nancy Coker Helin
(discoverer's family) Alternative names 1988 EK1 · 1950 TF4
1952 HN · 1968 QL1
1972 XQ1 · 1979 SL6
1983 XC1 · 1988 KL Similar 4015 Wilson–Harrington, Sun, 6489 Golevka, 9969 Braille, 4769 Castalia | ||
4222 Nancita, provisional designation 1988 EK1, is an eccentric, stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, about 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at the U.S Palomar Observatory, California, on 13 March 1988. It will become a Mars-crossing asteroid in June 2019.
The S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.7–3.1 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,331 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.29 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic. The first used precovery was obtained at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1968, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 20 years prior to its discovery.
A photometric light-curve analysis at the Australian Hunters Hill Observatory and collaborating stations in 2006 rendered a rotation period of 3.87 hours with a high brightness amplitude of 0.97 in magnitude. 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 8.5 and 9.7 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo in the range of 0.21 to 0.27. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link gives preference to the results obtained by IRAS.
The minor planet was named "Nancita" in honor of Nancy Coker Helin, daughter-in-law of the discoverer, and wife to Bruce Helin, after whom the minor planet 2430 Bruce Helin had previously been named. Nancy is described by the discoverer as a talented singer, composer and teacher, who has brought music and joy to her family. Naming citation was published on 2 December 1990 (M.P.C. 17466).