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Oct. 3, 2021
This space object went down in the history of astronomy as the first asteroid discovered from a photograph. It was discovered by British astronomers Simon Green and John Davis in 1983 while studying images taken from the IRAS infrared space observatory. The asteroid received the temporary designation 1983 TB, but already in 1985 it was approved for the final designation 3200 Phaethon.
The object belongs to the Apollo group. Due to the large eccentricity of its orbit, Phaethon crosses the orbits of all terrestrial planets, approaching the Sun at perihelion closer than any other asteroid in the main belt. As a result of such convergence, its surface temperature can reach 750 ° C. For this reason, he was named after the character of ancient Greek mythology - Phaethon, who was the son of the sun god - Helios.
Phaethon is an object with unusual orbital characteristics, reminiscent of the orbit of a comet, therefore it is also called a "stone comet". The average diameter of Phaethon is 5.1 km.
Spectral studies have shown that the asteroid consists of solid rocks and, despite periodic heating of its surface to very high temperatures, it has never recorded the appearance of a cometary coma or tail. Some researchers believe that Phaethon is the parent body of the Gemenids meteor shower, which is observed in mid-December. According to this group of scientists, Phaethon is a degenerate comet that has exhausted its entire supply of volatile components. To check and study all the available facts and assumptions, the Japanese Space Agency plans to launch a spacecraft to Phaeton and other, possibly related objects, using the most modern technologies in the coming years.
Source: Moscow Planetarium.
Related links:
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/32802/
Moscow Planetarium: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/moskovskiy-planetariy/
Asteroid: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/asteroid/
Images, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/Moscow Planetarium/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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