Editing 2598 Merlin

{{Short description|Carbonaceous Dorian asteroid}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox planet
 | minorplanet     = yes
 | name            = 2598 Merlin
 | background      = #D6D6D6
 | image           = 
 | image_size      = 
 | caption         = 
 | discovery_ref   = <ref name="jpldata" />
 | discovered      = 7 September 1980
 | discoverer      = [[Edward Bowell|E. Bowell]]
 | discovery_site  = [[Anderson Mesa Station|Anderson Mesa Stn.]]
 | mpc_name        = (2598) Merlin
 | alt_names       = 1980 RY{{·}}1948 WH<br />{{mp|1971 TD|3}}
 | pronounced      = 
 | named_after     = {{nowrap|[[Merlin]] {{small|([[Arthurian legend]])}}<ref name="springer" />}}
 | mp_category     = [[main-belt]]{{·}}[[Dora family|Dora]]<ref name="Broz-2013" />
 | orbit_ref       = <ref name="jpldata" />
 | epoch           = 4 September 2017 ([[Julian day|JD]] 2458000.5)
 | uncertainty     = 0
 | observation_arc = 68.44 yr (24,998 days)
 | aphelion        = 3.3861 [[Astronomical unit|AU]]
 | perihelion      = 2.1757 AU
 | semimajor       = 2.7809 AU
 | eccentricity    = 0.2176
 | period          = 4.64 [[Julian year (astronomy)|yr]] (1,694 days)
 | mean_anomaly    = 297.39[[Degree (angle)|°]]
 | mean_motion     = {{Deg2DMS|0.2125|sup=ms}} / day
 | inclination     = 7.7767°
 | asc_node        = 197.77°
 | arg_peri        = 217.28°
 | dimensions      = {{val|15.694|0.047}} km<ref name="Masiero-2011" />
 | rotation        =  
 | albedo          = {{val|0.049|0.010}}<ref name="Masiero-2011" />
 | spectral_type   = [[SMASS classification|SMASS]] = Ch<ref name="jpldata" />
 | abs_magnitude   = 13.2<ref name="jpldata" />
}}

'''2598 Merlin''', provisional designation {{mp|1980 RY}}, is a carbonaceous Dorian [[asteroid]] from the central regions of the [[asteroid belt]], approximately 16 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 7 September 1980, by American astronomer [[Edward Bowell]] at Lowell's [[Anderson Mesa Station]] in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States.<ref name="MPC-Merlin" /> The asteroid was named after the legendary wizard [[Merlin]] in Arthurian legend.<ref name="springer" />

== Classification and orbit ==

''Merlin'' is a member of the [[Dora family]] ({{small|[[FIN tbl#512|512]]}}), a well-established central [[asteroid family]] of more than 1,200 carbonaceous asteroids. The family's namesake is [[668&nbsp;Dora]]. It is alternatively known as the "Zhongolovich family", named after its presumably largest member [[1734&nbsp;Zhongolovich]]. The Dora family may also contain a subfamily.<ref name="Broz-2013" /><ref name="Nesvorny-2014" />{{rp|13,23}}

''Merlin'' orbits the Sun in the [[Kirkwood gap|central]] main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.4&nbsp;[[Astronomical unit|AU]] once every 4 years and 8 months (1,694 days). Its orbit has an [[orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] of 0.22 and an [[orbital inclination|inclination]] of 8[[Degree (angle)|°]] with respect to the [[ecliptic]].<ref name="jpldata" /> In Nombember 1948, the asteroid was first identified {{mp|1948 WH}} at [[Uccle Observatory]], where the body's [[observation arc]] begins 32 years prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.<ref name="MPC-Merlin" />

== Physical characteristics ==

In the [[SMASS classification]], ''Merlin'' a Ch-type asteroid, a hydrated subtype of the broader carbonaceous [[C-type asteroid|C-complex]].<ref name="jpldata" />

According to the surveys carried out by the [[NEOWISE]] mission of NASA's [[Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer]], ''Merlin'' measures 15.694 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an [[astronomical albedo|albedo]] of 0.049.<ref name="Masiero-2011" />

== Lightcurves ==

As of 2017, no rotational [[lightcurve]] of ''Merlin'' has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's [[rotation period]] and shape remain unknown.<ref name="jpldata" /><ref name="lcdb" />

== Naming ==

This [[minor planet]] was named after the sage and sorcerer [[Merlin]], featured mentor of [[King Arthur]] in [[Arthurian legend]] and [[medieval Welsh poetry]]. His magic enabled Arthur to pull [[Excalibur]] from the rock and become the ''rightwise king born of all England''. The name was suggested by F. Pilcher.<ref name="springer" /> The approved naming citation was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on 4 August 1982 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 7157}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" />

== Notes ==

There is a book titled ''Merlin's Tour of the Universe'', in which a fictitious character, called Merlin, answers all curious questions a layman would have about astronomy and the [[Solar System]]. In the book, Merlin's favorite asteroid is Merlin 2598.

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="jpldata">{{cite web
  |type       = 2017-05-05 last obs.
  |title      = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2598 Merlin (1980 RY)
  |url        = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2002598
  |publisher  = [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
  |access-date = 7 July 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="springer">{{cite book
  |last       = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
  |title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |publisher  = [[Springer Berlin Heidelberg]]
  |page       = 212
  |date       = 2007
  |isbn       = 978-3-540-00238-3
  |doi       = 10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2599 |chapter       = (2598) Merlin }}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Merlin">{{cite web
  |title      = 2598 Merlin (1980 RY)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2598
  |access-date = 7 July 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web
  |title      = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
  |access-date = 7 July 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Masiero-2011">{{cite journal
  |display-authors = 6
  |first1     = Joseph R. |last1 = Masiero
  |first2     = A. K. |last2 = Mainzer
  |first3     = T. |last3 = Grav
  |first4     = J. M. |last4 = Bauer
  |first5     = R. M. |last5 = Cutri
  |first6     = J. |last6 = Dailey
  |first7     = P. R. M. |last7 = Eisenhardt
  |first8     = R. S. |last8 = McMillan
  |first9     = T. B. |last9 = Spahr
  |first10    = M. F. |last10 = Skrutskie
  |first11    = D. |last11 = Tholen
  |first12    = R. G. |last12 = Walker
  |first13    = E. L. |last13 = Wright
  |first14    = E. |last14 = DeBaun
  |first15    = D. |last15 = Elsbury
  |first16    = T. IV |last16 = Gautier
  |first17    = S. |last17 = Gomillion
  |first18    = A. |last18 = Wilkins
  |date       = November 2011
  |title      = Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters
  |url        = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2011ApJ...741...68M
  |journal    = The Astrophysical Journal
  |volume     = 741
  |issue      = 2
  |page       = 20
  |bibcode    = 2011ApJ...741...68M
  |doi        = 10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68
  |arxiv      = 1109.4096
  |access-date= 7 July 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Broz-2013">{{cite journal
  |first1     = M. |last1 = Broz
  |first2     = A. |last2 = Morbidelli
  |first3     = W. F. |last3 = Bottke
  |first4     = J. |last4 = Rozehnal
  |first5     = D. |last5 = Vokrouhlický
  |first6     = D. |last6 = Nesvorný
  |date       = March 2013
  |title      = Constraining the cometary flux through the asteroid belt during the late heavy bombardment
  |journal    = Astronomy and Astrophysics
  |volume     = 551
  |page       = 16
  |bibcode    = 2013A&A...551A.117B
  |doi        = 10.1051/0004-6361/201219296
  |arxiv      = 1301.6221}}</ref>

<ref name="Nesvorny-2014">{{cite book
  |first1     = D. |last1 = Nesvorný
  |first2     = M. |last2 = Broz
  |first3     = V. |last3 = Carruba
  |date       = December 2014
  |chapter      = Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families
  |title    = Asteroids IV
  |pages      = 297–321
  |bibcode    = 2015aste.book..297N 
  |doi        = 10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016
  |arxiv      = 1502.01628
  |isbn       = 978-0-8165-3213-1}}</ref>

<ref name="lcdb">{{cite web
  |title      = LCDB Data for (2598) Merlin
  |publisher  = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
  |url        = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=2598%7CMerlin
  |access-date = 7 July 2017}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== External links ==
* [http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/lcdbsummaryquery.php Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)], query form ([http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216050541/http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html |date=16 December 2017 }})
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=aeAg1X7afOoC&pg Dictionary of Minor Planet Names], Google books
* [http://obswww.unige.ch/~behrend/page_cou.html Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR] – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
* [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs000001.html Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000)] – Minor Planet Center
* {{AstDys|2598}}
* {{JPL small body}}

{{Minor planets navigator |2597 Arthur |number=2598 |2599 Veselí}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlin}}
[[Category:Dora asteroids|002598]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Edward L. G. Bowell]]
[[Category:Named minor planets]]
[[Category:Ch-type asteroids (SMASS)|002598]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1980|19800907]]