1827 Atkinson

1827 Atkinson, provisional designation 1962 RK, is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 7 September 1962, by IU's Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, United States.^[4] The asteroid was named after British astronomer Robert d'Escourt Atkinson.^[2]

1827 Atkinson

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Indiana University (Indiana Asteroid Program)
Discovery site	Goethe Link Obs.
Discovery date	7 September 1962
Designations
MPC designation	(1827) Atkinson
Named after	Robert d'Escourt Atkinson (British astronomer)[2]
Alternative designations	1962 RK · 1931 VC 1955 FL · 1967 TL 1973 EQ
Minor planet category	main-belt · (middle)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	85.41 yr (31,196 days)
Aphelion	3.1907 AU
Perihelion	2.2291 AU
Semi-major axis	2.7099 AU
Eccentricity	0.1774
Orbital period (sidereal)	4.46 yr (1,629 days)
Mean anomaly	43.640°
Mean motion	0° 13m 15.24s / day
Inclination	4.5222°
Longitude of ascending node	220.56°
Argument of perihelion	239.58°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	8.855±0.301 km[3]
Geometric albedo	0.249±0.052[3]
Spectral type	Tholen = DU[1] B–V = 0.807[1]
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.39[1]

Orbit and classification

Atkinson is not a member of any known asteroid family.^[5] It orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.2 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,629 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.^[1]

The body's observation arc begins with its first identification as 1931 VC at Uccle Observatory in November 1931, almost 31 years prior to its official discovery observation at Goethe Link.^[4]

Physical characteristics

In the Tholen classification, Atkinson is similar to a dark D-type asteroid, though with an unusual spectrum (DU).^[1] This strongly disagrees with the albedo obtained by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which indicates that is rather a stony S-type asteroid.^[3]

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Atkinson has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, shape and poles remain unknown.^[1][5]

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Atkinson measures 8.855 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.249.^[3]

Naming

This minor planet was named after British astronomer, physicist and inventor, Robert d'Escourt Atkinson (1898–1982), noted for his contributions to fundamental astronomy. Atkinson pioneered in studying nuclear energy-generation in the Sun and stars.^[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 15 October 1977 (M.P.C. 4236).^[6]