400 Ducrosa

400 Ducrosa is a typical main belt asteroid. It was discovered by Auguste Charlois on 15 March 1895 in Nice, and named for It J. Ducros a mechanic at the Nice Observatory.^[4] This minor planet is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 3.126 AU with a period of 5.527 yr and an orbital eccentricity of 0.117. The orbital plane is inclined at an angle of 10.5° to the plane of the ecliptic.^[1]

A three-dimensional model of 400 Ducrosa based on its light curve

400 Ducrosa

Modelled shape of Ducrosa from its lightcurve
Discovery
Discovered by	Auguste Charlois
Discovery date	15 March 1895
Designations
MPC designation	(400) Ducrosa
Named after	J. Ducros
Alternative designations	1895 BU
Minor planet category	Main belt
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	121.08 yr (44225 d)
Aphelion	3.49063 AU (522.191 Gm)
Perihelion	2.76117 AU (413.065 Gm)
Semi-major axis	3.12590 AU (467.628 Gm)
Eccentricity	0.11668
Orbital period (sidereal)	5.527 yr (2,018.6 d)
Average orbital speed	16.84 km/s
Mean anomaly	294.184°
Mean motion	0° 10m 42.013s / day
Inclination	10.5354°
Longitude of ascending node	327.145°
Argument of perihelion	238.468°
Earth MOID	1.7762 AU (265.72 Gm)
Jupiter MOID	1.59886 AU (239.186 Gm)
TJupiter	3.178
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	33.66±1.6 km
Synodic rotation period	6.87 h (0.286 d)[1] 6.87 ± 0.01 hours[2]
Geometric albedo	0.1423±0.014
Spectral type	B[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	10.5

This asteroid has a B-type taxonomy, indicating it has a relatively bright geometric albedo for a carbonaceous asteroid.^[3] It has an estimated diameter of 33.66±1.6 km.^[1] Photometric measurements of the asteroid made in 2005 at the Palmer Divide Observatory showed a light curve with a rotation period of 6.87±0.01 h and a brightness variation of 0.62±0.02 in magnitude.^[2] A 2020 study found a rotation period of 6.8678±0.0001 h with a variation of 0.57±0.03 magnitude.^[5]