2131 Mayall
Inner main-belt asteroid named for astronomer Nicholas U. Mayall.
2131 Mayall, designated 1975 RA, is an asteroid roughly 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) across that orbits in the inner main belt. It belongs to the Hungaria group. Arnold Klemola discovered it on September 3, 1975, using the Lick Observatory. The asteroid was named after Nicholas U. Mayall (1906–1993), who served as director of the Kitt Peak National Observatory from 1960 to 1971 and spent many years working at Lick. In 2005, photometric observations at the Palmer Divide Observatory produced a light curve showing a rotation period of 2.572 ± 0.002 hours and a brightness variation of 0.08 ± 0.02 magnitude. A follow-up study in 2006 recorded another light curve; while it did not indicate a binary asteroid, it contributed additional data on the object.
Quick Facts
- Minorplanet
- yes
- Background
- #D6D6D6
- Discovered
- 3 September 1975
- Discoverer
- A. R. Klemola
- Discovery Site
- Lick Obs.
- Mpc Name
- (2131) Mayall
- Named After
- Nicholas Mayall
- Mp Category
- main-belt(inner)
- Epoch
- 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
- Uncertainty
- 0
- Observation Arc
- 41.05 yr (14,994 days)
- Aphelion
- 2.0970 AU
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Photometric measurements of 2131 Mayall made in 2005 at the Palmer Divide Observatory showed a light curve with a period of 2.572 ± 0.002 hours and a brightness variation of 0.08 ± 0.02 in magnitude. This led to a follow-up investigation in 2006, when another light curve was recorded. These observations did not indicate a binary asteroid type, but did add to the data set available for this asteroid. The asteroid is part of the Hungaria group.
Reader's Guide
2131 Mayall is notable primarily for its association with astronomer Nicholas U. Mayall, after whom both the asteroid and the Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope are named. The asteroid's light-curve studies, conducted in 2005 and 2006 at the Palmer Divide Observatory, provided rotation period and brightness variation data, though they did not reveal a binary nature. As a member of the Hungaria group, it occupies a region of the inner main belt. Its discovery by Arnold Klemola at Lick Observatory in 1975 adds to the catalog of minor planets named for figures in astronomy. The asteroid's physical characteristics, such as its diameter of about 8 km, are known from the source article, which also notes that the 2006 observations contributed to the existing data set without resolving the question of binarity.
Did You Know?
- 2131 Mayall was discovered on September 3, 1975, by Arnold Klemola at the Lick Observatory.
- The asteroid is about 8 km (~5 miles) in diameter.
- Photometric measurements in 2005 gave a rotation period of 2.572 ± 0.002 hours.
- It is part of the Hungaria group of asteroids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is 2131 Mayall?
2131 Mayall (provisional designation 1975 RA) is a small inner main-belt asteroid belonging to the Hungaria group. It measures roughly 8 kilometers across and carries the name of astronomer Nicholas U. Mayall.
Who discovered 2131 Mayall and when?
Arnold Klemola first observed the asteroid on September 3, 1975, from the Lick Observatory. It was cataloged during a period of active small-body surveys at that site.
Who is 2131 Mayall named after?
The name honors Nicholas U. Mayall (1906–1993), who directed the Kitt Peak National Observatory from 1960 to 1971 and also spent many years conducting work at Lick. The naming links the discovery site to his long career in observational astronomy.
How big is 2131 Mayall and where does it orbit?
At about 8 kilometers (roughly 5 miles) in diameter, it is a modest member of the Hungaria family. Its orbit places it in the inner portion of the main asteroid belt, closer to the Sun than most belt objects.
What is 2131 Mayall's rotation period?
Photometric observations made at Palmer Divide Observatory in 2005 determined a spin period of 2.572 hours with an uncertainty of only 0.002 hours. The same light curve showed a small brightness variation of about 0.08 magnitudes, hinting at a fairly uniform shape.
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