2449 Kenos
Bright Hungaria asteroid with a moon, named from Selknam mythology.
2449 Kenos, first designated 1978 GC, is a bright asteroid roughly three kilometers across. It belongs to the Hungaria group and qualifies as a medium-sized Mars-crosser, residing in the inner main belt. American astronomer William Liller spotted it on 8 April 1978 using the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. A small moon orbiting the asteroid was detected on 27 February 2015.
The asteroid is part of the Hungaria family, the innermost dense cluster of asteroids in the Solar System. Its orbit takes it between 1.6 and 2.2 astronomical units from the Sun, completing a lap every 963 days (about two years and eight months). The path has an eccentricity of 0.17 and tilts 25° relative to the ecliptic. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link estimates a high albedo of 0.4, typical for E-type asteroids, which have magnesium silicate surfaces similar to enstatite chondrites.
In the Tholen classification, Kenos is an E-type asteroid, while PanSTARRS lists it as a CX-type, a transition between C-type and X-type. Lightcurve observations at the Palmer Divide Observatory in Colorado Springs during 2007 revealed a rotation period of 3.8492 hours and a brightness variation of 0.20 magnitude. Two later studies confirmed the 3.85-hour period.
The minor planet takes its name from Kenos, the first man in Selknam mythology, the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego. According to the myth, a Supreme Being sent Kenos to bring order to the world. He created humanity by shaping male and female organs from peat, taught people language, and gave them rules for a harmonious society. The Minor Planet Center published the official naming citation on 6 February 1993 (M.P.C. 21606).
Quick Facts
- Minorplanet
- yes
- Background
- #FA8072
- Discovered
- 8 April 1978
- Discoverer
- W. Liller
- Discovery Site
- Cerro Tololo
- Mpc Name
- (2449) Kenos
- Named After
- Kenos (Selknam mythology)
- Mp Category
- Mars-crosserHungariabinary
- Epoch
- 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
- Uncertainty
- 0
- Observation Arc
- 38.93 yr (14,220 days)
- Aphelion
- 2.2303 AU
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
2449 Kenos is a member of the Hungaria family, which forms the innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.6–2.2 AU once every 963 days, with an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 25° with respect to the ecliptic. Based on an assumption by the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link, the body has a high albedo of 0.4, typical for E-type asteroids with a magnesium silicate surface. In the Tholen taxonomy, Kenos is an E-type asteroid, while PanSTARRS has characterized it as a CX-type, transitioning between C-type and X-type asteroids. Observations at the Palmer Divide Observatory in Colorado Springs during 2007 produced a lightcurve with a period of 3.8492 hours and a brightness range of 0.20 magnitude; two more recent observations confirmed the 3.85-hour period.
Reader's Guide
2449 Kenos is notable as a bright Hungaria asteroid and a medium-sized Mars-crosser, with a diameter of about 3 kilometers. Its discovery by William Liller in 1978 at Cerro Tololo added to the catalog of inner main-belt objects. The asteroid's high albedo of 0.4 and classification as an E-type (with a CX-type characterization from PanSTARRS) indicate a magnesium silicate surface, linking it to enstatite chondrite meteorites. The discovery of a minor-planet moon on 27 February 2015 further enhances its scientific interest, as binary asteroids provide insights into formation and dynamical processes. The naming after Kenos, the first man in Selknam mythology of Tierra del Fuego, connects the asteroid to indigenous cultural narratives. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 February 1993. The rotation period of 3.8492 hours, confirmed by multiple observations, contributes to the understanding of its physical properties.
Did You Know?
- 2449 Kenos has a minor-planet moon discovered on 27 February 2015.
- It is named after Kenos, the first man in Selknam mythology from Tierra del Fuego.
- It is classified as an E-type asteroid in the Tholen taxonomy and as a CX-type by PanSTARRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 2449 Kenos?
2449 Kenos is a bright, roughly three-kilometer-wide asteroid that belongs to the Hungaria group and crosses Mars's orbit within the inner main belt. It was given the provisional designation 1978 GC before receiving its permanent number and name.
Who discovered 2449 Kenos and where?
American astronomer William Liller identified the asteroid on 8 April 1978 while working at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
Does 2449 Kenos have a moon?
Yes. A small satellite orbiting the asteroid was detected on 27 February 2015, making Kenos one of the rarer asteroids known to host a natural companion.
What is 2449 Kenos's orbit like?
Its path carries it between 1.6 and 2.2 astronomical units from the Sun, placing it in the innermost dense cluster of asteroids. A full circuit around the Sun takes about 963 days, or roughly two years and eight months.
Where does the name Kenos come from?
The name is drawn from Selknam mythology, the traditional belief system of the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego, giving the asteroid a cultural connection to South America.
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