7088 Ishtar

Lore & Background

7088 Ishtar was discovered on 1 January 1992 by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. Its first observation, however, occurred nearly 11 years earlier at the Siding Spring Observatory in March 1981. The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.2–2.8 AU with an eccentricity of 0.39 and an inclination of 8°, completing one orbit every 1,018 days. Its spectral type is unknown, though the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes it is an S-type due to its relatively high albedo. In December 2005, photometric observations by Vishnu Reddy and collaborators revealed a rotation period of 2.6790 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.11 magnitude. That same month, a 330-meter satellite was discovered orbiting the primary every 20.65 hours, making Ishtar a synchronous binary asteroid. The minor planet was named after the ancient Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar (Inanna), principal goddess of the Assyrians and Babylonians associated with love, fertility, sex and war. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 April 1997.

Reader's Guide

7088 Ishtar holds significance as a synchronous binary asteroid and near-Earth object from the Amor group. Its binary nature, with a satellite discovered in December 2005, provides insight into the dynamics and formation of small-body systems in the inner solar system. The asteroid's relatively high albedo of 0.26 (from NEOWISE) and assumed S-type classification suggest a stony composition, though its spectral type remains unknown. The discovery of its 330-meter satellite, orbiting every 20.65 hours, makes it a valuable target for studying binary asteroid evolution and tidal interactions. The naming after the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar connects the object to ancient mythology, reflecting a tradition of honoring deities from various cultures. The asteroid's orbit, with a semi-major axis of 1.98 AU and eccentricity of 0.39, brings it as close as 1.2 AU to the Sun, classifying it as a near-Earth object. Its observation arc beginning in 1981, well before its official discovery, underscores the importance of archival data in asteroid research.

Did You Know?

• 7088 Ishtar is a synchronous binary asteroid with a 330-meter satellite discovered in December 2005.
• It was discovered by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory on 1 January 1992.
• The asteroid has a rotation period of 2.6790 hours, determined from photometric observations in December 2005.
• Its first observation was made at Siding Spring Observatory in March 1981, nearly 11 years before its official discovery.