19367 Pink Floyd (provisional designation 1997 XW3) is a dark background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 December 1997, by European astronomers of the ODAS survey at the CERGA Observatory near Caussols, France.[5] The asteroid was named after the English rock band Pink Floyd.[2]

19367 Pink Floyd
Discovery[1]
Discovered byODAS
Discovery siteCERGA Obs.
Discovery date3 December 1997
Designations
(19367) Pink Floyd
Named after
Pink Floyd[2]
(English rock band)
1997 XW3 · 1985 UZ2
1999 JH126
main-belt · (inner)
Orbital characteristics[1]
background[3]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc62.66 yr (22,888 d)
Aphelion2.8466 AU
Perihelion2.0439 AU
2.4452 AU
Eccentricity0.1641
3.82 yr (1,397 days)
114.74°
0° 15m 28.08s / day
Inclination3.6853°
91.599°
305.17°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.652±0.172 km[4]
0.048±0.013[4]
14.6[1]

Orbit and classification

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Pink Floyd is a non-family asteroid from the background population.[3] It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.8 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,397 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.16 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The asteroid was first identified as 1985 UZ2 at the discovering Caussols Observatory in October 1985. Its observation arc begins 43 years prior to its official discovery observation, with a precovery taken by the Digitized Sky Survey at Palomar Observatory in July 1954.[5]

Physical characteristics

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Diameter and albedo

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According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Pink Floyd measures 6.652 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a low albedo of 0.048.[4] An albedo near 0.05 is typical for carbonaceous C-type asteroids, which are the dominant type in the outer region of the main belt, but rather unusual in the inner parts. Pink Floyd has an absolute magnitude of 14.6.[1]

Rotation period

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As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Pink Floyd has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, spin axis and shape remain unknown.[1][6]

Naming

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This minor planet was named after the English rock band Pink Floyd, which released several astronomically themed songs such as "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Astronomy Domine". The band's album The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) became one of the best-selling records of all time.[2]

The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (M.P.C. 49281).[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 19367 Pink Floyd (1997 XW3)" (2017-03-30 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(19367) Pink Floyd [2.44, 0.16, 3.7]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (19367) Pink Floyd, Addendum to Fifth Edition: 2003–2005. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 134. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_1491. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid 19367 Pink Floyd – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c 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. S2CID 118745497. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b "19367 Pink Floyd (1997 XW3)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  6. ^ "LCDB Data for (19367) Pink Floyd". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  7. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
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