233 Asterope

233 Asterope is a large main-belt asteroid that was discovered on 11 May 1883, by French astronomer Alphonse Borrelly at Marseille Observatory in Marseille, France. The asteroid was named after Asterope (or Sterope), one of the Pleiades.

233 Asterope

3D model based on lightcurve data
Discovery
Discovered by	A. Borrelly
Discovery site	Marseille Obs.
Discovery date	11 May 1883
Designations
MPC designation	(233) Asterope
Pronunciation	/əˈstɛrəpiː/[1]
Named after	Sterope
Alternative designations	A883 JA
Minor planet category	Main belt
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	118.65 yr (43337 d)
Aphelion	2.9271 AU (437.89 Gm)
Perihelion	2.3927 AU (357.94 Gm)
Semi-major axis	2.6599 AU (397.92 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.10044
Orbital period (sidereal)	4.34 yr (1584.5 d)
Mean anomaly	138.789°
Mean motion	0° 13m 37.92s / day
Inclination	7.6832°
Longitude of ascending node	222.017°
Argument of perihelion	125.128°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	102.78±7.9 km
Synodic rotation period	19.70 h (0.821 d)
Geometric albedo	0.0870±0.015
Spectral type	Tholen = T[2] SMASS = K[2]
Absolute magnitude (H)	8.21[2]

This asteroid is orbiting the Sun with a semimajor axis of 2.66 AU, a period of 4.34 years, and an eccentricity of 0.10. The orbital plane is inclined by 7.68° to the plane of the ecliptic. It is a rare T-type asteroid^[3] and has a relatively dark surface. The spectrum of 233 Asterope bears a resemblance to Troilite, a sulfurous iron mineral found in most iron meteorites.^[4]

Photometric observations during 1995 show a rotation period of 19.743 hours.^[3] Measurements made with the IRAS observatory give a diameter of 109.56 ± 5.04 km and a geometric albedo of 0.08 ± 0.01. By comparison, the MIPS photometer on the Spitzer Space Telescope gives a diameter of 97.54 ± 10.32 km and a geometric albedo of 0.10 ± 0.01.^[5]