- 2867 Šteins
Infobox Planet | minorplanet = yes | width = 25em | bgcolour = #FFFFC0
name=2867 Šteins
discovery=yes
discovery_ref= [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/NumberedMPs.html]
discoverer=Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh
discovered=November 4, 1969
alt_names=
mp_category=Main belt
orbit_ref= [ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/elgb/astorb.html]
epoch=February 4, 2008 (JD 2454500.5)
semimajor=353.495 Gm (2.363 AU)
perihelion=301.857 Gm (2.018 AU)
aphelion=405.132 Gm (2.708 AU)
eccentricity=0.146
period=1326.736 d (3.63 a)
inclination=9.946°
asc_node=55.530°
arg_perihelion=250.559°
mean_anomaly=259.193°
avg_speed=19.27 km/s
physical_characteristics=yes
dimensions= ~2 to ~5 km
mass=?e|? kg
density=? g/cm³
surface_grav=? m/s²
escape_velocity=? km/s
sidereal_day= 6.05 h
axial_tilt=?° | pole_ecliptic_lat=? | pole_ecliptic_lon=?
spectral_type=E
abs_magnitude=12.9
albedo=0.10
single_temperature=~181 K2867 Šteins is a small main-belt
asteroid that was discovered in 1969 by N. S. Chernykh. It is named after Kārlis Šteins, aLatvia n and Soviet astronomer.A recent study by astronomers at the
European Southern Observatory showed that Šteins is anE-type asteroid with a diameter of approximately 4.6 km. [cite web
title = First albedo determination of 2867 Steins, target of the Rosetta mission
author = S. Fornasier, I. Belskaya, M. Fulchignoni, M. A. Barucci, C. Barbieri
url = http://fr.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602631] Alightcurve analysis by theRosetta space probe has shown that Šteins has arotation period of about six hours, is irregular in shape, and does not have any moons. [cite web
title = OSIRIS camera on Rosetta obtains ‘light curve’ of asteroid Steins
url = http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMCC2R08ZE_0.html
author = Michael Küppers, Uwe Keller, Rita Schulz, Gerhard Schwehm]Flyby
On September 5, 2008, the Rosetta space probe flew by Šteins at a distance of 800 kilometres and a relatively slow speed of 8.6 kilometres per second. This was the first of two planned asteroid flybys performed by the probe, the second being the much larger
21 Lutetia in 2010. [cite journal
title = Rosetta Asteroid Targets: 2867 Steins and 21 Lutetia
author = M. A. Barucci, M. Fulchignoni and A. Rossi
journal = Space Science Reviews
volume = 128
issue = 1-4
pages = 67–78
year = 2007
url =
doi = 10.1007/s11214-006-9029-6 ] The timing of the fly-by meant that the asteroid was illuminated by the sun from the perspective of the spacecraft, making the transmitted images clear and concise.cite news|url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_-M0-esROw8pJHo-OhQCLZWvf3w|title=Spacecraft set for asteroid fly-by|date=Sept 05, 2008|publisher= The Press Association|accessdate=2008-09-05]European Space Operations Centre streamed a press conference on Šteins later that day.cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=26345|title=Rosetta Steins fly-by timeline|first=Monica Talevi|date=September 4, 2008|work=European Space Agency|accessdate=2008-09-05]Physical characteristics
After the Rosetta flyby, the ESA described Šteins as 'a diamond in the sky', as it has a wide body that tapers into a point. [ [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMNMYO4KKF_1.html#subhead4] ] The wide section is dominated by a large crater.
ee also
*
Aubrite
*Hungaria family
*(144898) 2004 VD17
*64 Angelina
*3103 Eger
*434 Hungaria
*44 Nysa
*55 Pandora References
External links
* [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMNMYO4KKF_1.html#subhead4 ESA website with photographs and animations of Šteins]
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