Isolda (
minor planet designation
A formal minor-planet designation is, in its final form, a number–name combination given to a minor planet (asteroid, centaur, trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet but not comet). Such designation always features a leading number (catalog or ...
: 211 Isolda) is a very large, dark
main-belt asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
. It is classified as a
C-type asteroid and is probably composed of primitive
carbonaceous material. The spectra of the asteroid displays evidence of aqueous alteration.
[
It was discovered by Austrian astronomer ]Johann Palisa
Johann Palisa (6 December 1848 – 2 May 1925) was an Austrian astronomer, born in Troppau, Austrian Silesia, now Czech Republic. He was a prolific discoverer of asteroids, discovering 122 in all, from 136 Austria in 1874 to 1073 Gel ...
on 10 December 1879, in Pola, and is possibly named after Isolde, heroine of the legend of Tristan and Iseult.[Schmadel, L. (2003:31). ''Dictionary of minor planet names''. Germany: Springer.]
In 2001, the asteroid was detected by radar from the Arecibo Observatory
The Arecibo Observatory, also known as the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) and formerly known as the Arecibo Ionosphere Observatory, is an observatory in Barrio Esperanza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico owned by the US National Science F ...
at a distance of 1.78 AU. The resulting data yielded an effective diameter of .occult
The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism a ...
seven stars.
References
External links
The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database
Asteroid Lightcurve Data File
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Background asteroids
Isolda
Isolda
C-type asteroids (Tholen)
Ch-type asteroids (SMASS)
18791210
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