Discovery date 4 June 1992 Alternative names 1992 LC Discovered 4 June 1992 Orbits Sun | Minor planet category Apollo · NEO Aphelion 4.3 m | |
Discovered by C. ShoemakerE. Shoemaker Discoverers Carolyn S. Shoemaker, Eugene Merle Shoemaker Similar 4544 Xanthus, 3362 Khufu, 4183 Cuno, 1865 Cerberus, 2201 Oljato | ||
7092 Cadmus, provisional designation 1992 LC, is a highly eccentric asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and Apollo asteroid, roughly 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the U.S. Palomar Observatory, California, on 4 June 1992.
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.8–4.3 AU once every 4.04 years (1,474 days). Its well-observed orbit has the lowest possible uncertainty, a very high eccentricity of 0.70, and an inclination of 18° with respect to the ecliptic. Due to a precovery obtained at the Australian Siding Spring Observatory, its observation arc already begins in 1980. It has an Earth minimum orbit intersection distance of 0.0963 AU (14,400,000 kilometres), and will pass at 0.241 AU (36,100,000 km) from Earth, on 7 December 2056.
As of 2016, the asteroid's effective size, its composition and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown. Based on an absolute magnitude of 15.1, it measures between 3 and 6 kilometers in diameter, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25. Since near-Earth asteroids are often of a silicaceous rather than of a carbonaceous composition, with higher albedos, typically above 0.20, the asteroid's diameter might be on the lower end of NASA's published conversion table, as the higher the body's reflectivity (albedo), the smaller its diameter, at a constant absolute magnitude (brightness).
The minor planet is named for the Phoenician prince Cadmus, son of the king Agenor. The minor planets 1873 Agenor, 52 Europa, 5731 Zeus, 881 Athene, 40 Harmonia and 1388 Aphrodite are named after related figures from Greek mythology.