39741 Komm

39741 Komm (provisional designation 1997 AT₆) is a stony asteroid and eccentric Mars-crosser from the innermost regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 2 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 January 1997, by American astronomer Roy Tucker at Goodricke-Pigott Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, United States.^[4] The asteroid was named for American helioseismologist Rudolf Komm.^[2]

39741 Komm

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	R. Tucker
Discovery site	Goodricke–Pigott Obs.
Discovery date	9 January 1997
Designations
MPC designation	(39741) Komm
Named after	Rudolf Komm (helioseismologist)[2]
Alternative designations	1997 AT6 · 1999 LM28
Minor planet category	Mars crosser[1][3][4]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	20.15 yr (7,358 days)
Aphelion	2.9461 AU
Perihelion	1.4189 AU
Semi-major axis	2.1825 AU
Eccentricity	0.3499
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.22 yr (1,178 days)
Mean anomaly	175.16°
Mean motion	0° 18m 20.52s / day
Inclination	6.3383°
Longitude of ascending node	225.71°
Argument of perihelion	126.19°
Earth MOID	0.4267 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	2.15 km (calculated)[3]
Synodic rotation period	5.95±0.01 h[5]
Geometric albedo	0.20 (assumed)[3]
Spectral type	S[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	15.7[1][3]

Orbit and classification

Komm orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.4–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,178 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.35 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.^[1] As no precoveries were taken, the asteroid's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation.^[4]

Physical characteristics

Rotation and shape

In October 2009, the first and so far only rotational lightcurve of Komm was obtained by French amateur astronomer René Roy. It gave a well-defined rotation period of 5.95±0.01 hours with a high brightness variation of 0.83 magnitude, indicative of a non-spheroidal shape (U=3).^[5]

Diameter and albedo

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 2.15 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 15.7.^[3]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Rudolf Walter Komm (born 1957), an American helioseismologist, who contributed in the study of solar activity.^[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (M.P.C. 49283).^[6]