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2542 Calpurnia, provisionally designated 1980 CF, is a carbonaceous high-albedo asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 20 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 February 1980, by American astronomer Edward Bowell at Anderson Mesa Station, Flagstaff, United States. The asteroid was named after Julius Caesar's wife, Calpurnia.

Orbit and classification

Calpurnia orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.9–3.4 AU once every 5 years and 6 months (2,024 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. In 1954, a first precovery was taken at the Palomar Observatory in California, extending the body's observation arc by 26 prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.

Physical characterization

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Calpurnia measures 27.6 and 20.854 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo of 0.0639 and 0.102, respectively. It has an absolute magnitude of 11.6.

Near-infrared spectroscopic observations, however, gave a higher albedo of 0.15 with a subsequently shorter diameter of 18 kilometers. Calpurnia has a featureless surface with up to 60% amorphous magnesium pyroxenes that might explain the high albedo for an carbonaceous outer-belt asteroid.

Lightcurve

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained. The body's spectral type, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named after Calpurnia, the last wife of Julius Caesar. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 8 April 1982 (M.P.C. 6834).

References

1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2542 Calpurnia (1980 CF)" (2017-01-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
2. "Calpurnia". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
3. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2542) Calpurnia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2542) Calpurnia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 208. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2543. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
4. ^ Kasuga, Toshihiro; Usui, Fumihiko; Shirahata, Mai; Kuroda, Daisuke; Ootsubo, Takafumi; Okamura, Natsuko; et al. (February 2015). "Near-Infrared Spectra of High-Albedo Outer Main-Belt Asteroids". The Astronomical Journal. 149 (2): 8. Bibcode:2015AJ....149...37K. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/149/2/37. 37.
5. ^ Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
6. ^ Tedesco, E. F.; Noah, P. V.; Noah, M.; Price, S. D. (October 2004). "IRAS Minor Planet Survey V6.0". NASA Planetary Data System. 12: IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0. Bibcode:2004PDSS...12.....T. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
7. Hasselmann, P. H.; Carvano, J. M.; Lazzaro, D.; Mothé-Diniz, T. (February 2010). "SDSS-based taxonomic classification and orbital distribution of main belt asteroids". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 510: 12. Bibcode:2010A&A...510A..43C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913322. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
8. ^ "2542 Calpurnia (1980 CF)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
9. "LCDB Data for (2542) Calpurnia". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 18 June 2017.
10. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 June 2017.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
• 2542 Calpurnia at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 2542 Calpurnia at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Minor planet object articles (numbered)
• Background asteroids
• Discoveries by Edward L. G. Bowell
• Named minor planets
• Astronomical objects discovered in 1980
• Calpurnia (wife of Caesar)