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2691 Sérsic, provisional designation 1974 KB, is a stony Florian asteroid and binary system from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by staff members at the Felix Aguilar Observatory at El Leoncito Complex in Argentina, on 18 May 1974. The asteroid was named after Argentine astronomer José Luis Sérsic.

Classification and orbit

Sérsic is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,228 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.

Physical characteristics

Diameter and albedo

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.24 – derived from 8 Flora, the largest member and namesake of this orbital family – and calculates a diameter of 6.21 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 13.2.

Satellite

Sérsic is a binary asteroid. A minor-planet moon, designated S/2011 (2691) 1 was discovered in 2011 from lightcurve observations of the asteroid. It has a diameter of 2.15 ± 0.11 and an orbital period of 1 day, 2 hours, and 48 minutes.

Naming

This minor planet was named in honor of José Luis Sérsic (1933–1993), well known for his work in extragalactic astronomy and on supernovae (also see Sérsic profile and Lenticular galaxy § Sérsic decomposition). He has served as director of the Córdoba Observatory. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1989 (M.P.C. 14207).

References

1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2691 Sersic (1974 KB)" (2017-03-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2691) Sersic". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2691) Sersic. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 220. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2692. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
3. ^ "LCDB Data for (2691) Sersic". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 18 June 2017.
4. ^ Johnston, Robert. "(2691) Sersic". johnstonsarchive.net. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
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. "2691 Sersic (1974 KB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 June 2017.

External links

• Asteroids with Satellites, Robert Johnston, johnstonsarchive.net
• 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
• 2691 Sérsic at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 2691 Sérsic at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Minor planet object articles (numbered)
• Flora asteroids
• Discoveries by the Félix Aguilar Observatory
• Named minor planets
• Binary asteroids
• Astronomical objects discovered in 1974