Discovered by C. W. Hergenrother MPC designation 7959 Alysecherri Minor planet category main-belt · Hungaria Absolute magnitude 14.5 Discoverer Carl W. Hergenrother Asteroid group Hungaria family | Discovery date 2 August 1994 Alternative names 1994 PK Discovered 2 August 1994 Orbits Sun Discovery site Catalina Station | |
Named after Alyse Cherri Smith
(wife of discoverer) People also search for Tarvos, Sun, 12396 Amyphillips | ||
7959 Alysecherri, provisional designation 1994 PK, is a bright, stony Hungaria asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 2 August 1994, by American astronomer Carl Hergenrother at the U.S. Steward Observatory Catalina Station on Mt Bigelow near Tucson, Arizona.
The E-type asteroid is a member of the Hungaria family, which form the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.8–2.1 AU once every 2 years and 9 months (989 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 19° with respect to the ecliptic. The first precovery was taken at Palomar Observatory in 1951, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 43 years prior to its discovery.
A rotational light-curve for this asteroid was obtained from photometric observations made by American astronomer Brian Warner at the U.S. Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado, in July 2013. It gave a rotation period of 7000316100000000000♠3.161±0.005 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.13 in magnitude (U=2). The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.30 and calculates a diameter of 3.05 kilometers.
The minor planet is named after the maiden name of the discovering astronomer's wife, Alyse Cherri Smith. Naming citation was published on 13 November 2008 (M.P.C. 64311).