3034 Climenhaga

Lore & Background

3034 Climenhaga is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest families of stony asteroids in the main belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.8 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,294 days), with an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 5° relative to the ecliptic. The asteroid's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Heidelberg, as no precoveries were taken and no prior identifications were made.

In July 2009, a rotational lightcurve of Climenhaga was obtained from photometric observations led by Australian astronomer Julian Oey at Kingsgrove and Leura observatories. Lightcurve analysis gave a well-defined rotation period of 2.737485 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.10 magnitude. During these same observations, a minor-planet moon was discovered orbiting Climenhaga with an orbital period of 18.954 hours; the discovery was not announced until 2013. The satellite's orbit has an estimated semi-major axis of 19 kilometers.

Climenhaga has been characterized as a common S-type asteroid. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.24 – derived from 8 Flora, the family's largest member – and calculates a diameter of 7.82 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 12.7. The minor planet was named in 1987 for Canadian John Leroy Climenhaga of the University of Victoria, in honor of his work in astrophysics; the naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 16 December 1986.

Reader's Guide

3034 Climenhaga is notable as a synchronous binary asteroid, meaning its moon orbits with a period equal to the asteroid's rotation period, locking the satellite in a tidal embrace. Discovered in 1917 by Max Wolf, a prolific discoverer of minor planets, it was named decades later for Canadian astrophysicist John Climenhaga, reflecting the tradition of honoring scientists in the field. The asteroid's moon was discovered during photometric observations in July 2009, though the finding was not announced until 2013, highlighting the careful analysis required to confirm such companions. As a member of the Flora family, Climenhaga shares a common origin with one of the largest stony asteroid families in the main belt. Its well-determined rotation period of 2.737485 hours and the satellite's orbital period of 18.954 hours provide key data for understanding binary asteroid dynamics. The asteroid's diameter of 7.82 kilometers, derived from an assumed albedo of 0.24, places it among the smaller members of its family. The discovery and characterization of Climenhaga and its moon contribute to the broader study of binary systems in the asteroid belt, offering insights into their formation and evolution.

Did You Know?

• Its minor-planet moon has an orbital period of 18.954 hours and was discovered in July 2009, though not announced until 2013.
• It was named after Canadian astrophysicist John Leroy Climenhaga, with the naming citation published on 16 December 1986.