4492 Debussy
Dark, elongated binary asteroid named after composer Claude Debussy.
4492 Debussy, initially designated 1988 SH, is a dark, elongated asteroid from the intermediate main belt, measuring roughly 15 kilometers across. Belgian astronomer Eric Elst discovered it on 17 September 1988 at Haute-Provence Observatory in France. The asteroid is a binary system, with a moon discovered in 2002.
It belongs to the background population of the main belt, not to any specific asteroid family. Debussy orbits the Sun at distances between 2.3 and 3.3 AU, completing one revolution every 4 years and 7 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 8° relative to the ecliptic. A precovery image from Palomar Observatory in 1951 extended the observation arc by 37 years before its official discovery.
The asteroid was named for French composer Claude Debussy (1862–1918), a leading figure in impressionist music known for works like *Clair de lune* and *Feux d'artifice*, as well as the piano suites *Estampes*, *Bergamasque*, and *Images*. He admired Frédéric Chopin, after whom asteroid 3784 Chopin is named. The naming citation was published on 4 October 1990.
Surveys by the Japanese Akari satellite, Spitzer Space Telescope, and NASA's WISE/NEOWISE mission measured Debussy's diameter between 13.23 and 17.359 kilometers, with a surface albedo ranging from 0.039 to 0.07. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a carbonaceous albedo of 0.057, yielding a diameter of 14.64 kilometers and an absolute magnitude of 12.9.
Photometric observations between 2002 and 2016, mainly by Swiss, French, and German astronomers, determined a rotation period of 26.606 hours. The brightness variation of 1.04 to 1.13 magnitudes indicates the asteroid is highly elongated.
In November 2002, Swiss astronomer Raoul Behrend and a European team discovered that Debussy is a synchronous binary system. The moon's orbital period matches the primary's rotation at 26.606 hours. The secondary-to-primary mean-diameter ratio is 0.643, with the moon estimated at 9.39 kilometers in diameter and a semi-major axis of about 31 kilometers. The discovery was announced on 21 March 2004. The same collaboration also found satellites around asteroids 854 Frostia, 1089 Tama, and 1313 Berna.
Quick Facts
- Minorplanet
- yes
- Background
- #D6D6D6
- Discovered
- 17 September 1988
- Discoverer
- E. W. Elst
- Discovery Site
- Haute-Provence Obs.
- Mpc Name
- (4492) Debussy
- Pronounced
- d · E · b · j · U · ˈ · s · iː etc.
- Named After
- Claude Debussy / (French composer)
- Mp Category
- main-belt(middle) / background
- Epoch
- 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
- Uncertainty
- 0
- Observation Arc
- 65.65 yr (23,977 days)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
4492 Debussy orbits the Sun in the middle main-belt at a distance of 2.3–3.3 AU once every 4 years and 7 months, with an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 8°. A first precovery was taken at Palomar Observatory in 1951, extending the body's observation arc by 37 years prior to its official discovery. The asteroid was named in memory of French composer Claude Debussy, one of the most prominent figures associated with impressionist music, best known for his Clair de lune and Feux d'artifice. The official naming citation was published on 4 October 1990.
Reader's Guide
4492 Debussy is significant as a synchronous binary system, meaning its moon orbits with a period identical to the primary's rotation. This was revealed in November 2002 during photometric observations led by Swiss astronomer Raoul Behrend at Geneva Observatory, in collaboration with several other European astronomers. The discovery was announced on 21 March 2004, and the collaboration also discovered satellites in orbit of the main-belt asteroids 854 Frostia, 1089 Tama, and 1313 Berna. The system's secondary-to-primary mean-diameter ratio is 0.643, with the moon estimated at 9.39 kilometers in diameter and a semi-major axis of approximately 31 kilometers. The asteroid's rotation period of 26.606 hours and brightness variation of 1.04–1.13 magnitude indicate a highly elongated shape. Its dark surface, with albedo between 0.039 and 0.07, is consistent with carbonaceous composition.
Did You Know?
- 4492 Debussy is a synchronous binary system, with its moon's orbital period identical to the primary's rotation period of 26.606 hours.
- The asteroid was discovered on 17 September 1988 by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at Haute-Provence Observatory in France.
- A first precovery of Debussy was taken at Palomar Observatory in 1951, extending the observation arc by 37 years.
- The satellite's diameter is estimated at 9.39 kilometers, with a semi-major axis of approximately 31 kilometers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 4492 Debussy?
It is a dark, elongated asteroid in the intermediate main belt, roughly 15 kilometres across, that was first catalogued under the provisional designation 1988 SH.
Who discovered 4492 Debussy and where?
Belgian astronomer Eric Elst identified it on 17 September 1988 while observing from Haute-Provence Observatory in southern France.
Is 4492 Debussy part of a recognized asteroid family?
No; it belongs to the general background population of the main belt and is not associated with any specific dynamical family.
What makes 4492 Debussy a binary system?
A small companion moon was detected orbiting the primary body in 2002, confirming that Debussy is not a single rock but a two-body system.
Why is the asteroid named after Claude Debussy?
It honours the French Impressionist composer, following the long-standing convention of assigning asteroid names to figures of cultural significance.
More in Notable Asteroids, Part 3 1-24
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