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1218 Aster
1218 Aster, provisional designation 1932 BJ, is a bright asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5.5 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by Karl Reinmuth in 1932, it was later named after the flowering plant Aster. DiscoveryAster was discovered on 29 January 1932, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.[5] Two nights later, it was independently discovered by Italian astronomer Mario A. Ferrero at the Pino Torinese Observatory at Turin, Italy.[3] Classification and orbitAster orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,244 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The asteroid's observation arc begins at the discovering observatory, one week after its official discovery observation.[5] Physical characteristicsDiameter and albedoAccording to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Aster measures 5.554 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.332.[4] LightcurvesAs of 2017, rotational lightcurve of Aster has been obtained.[6] The body's rotation period, shape and variation in magnitude shifted from unknown movements[1][7] to specific identifiable spin/shape determinations. NamingThe minor planet was named after the genus of flowers, Aster (also see List of minor planets named after animals and plants § Plants). The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 113).[3] References
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