Orbital elements and other data (Assumed or derived values in parenthesis, my estimates in italics and parenthesis. Source identifications in brackets, see this link for sources):

--(1866) Sisyphus--discovery and notes:

Primary discovered on 5 December 1972 by Paul Wild from Zimmerwald, but linked to pre-discovery observations from 26 January 1955. Alternate designation 1972 XA.

Secondary identified based on radar observations from December 1985 from Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico; binary nature was not recognized until 2007.

See more information and links at Asteroid/Comet Connection Catchall Catalog page

--Links, more technical:

• Binary Near-Earth Asteroids Detected by Radar, JPL.

--Links, less technical:

--Links to ADS abstracts:

• Degraff, D. R., Robbins, A. M., & Gutermuth, R. A. 1998, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society Rotation Curves for 13 Asteroids
• Skiff, B. A., Buie, M. W., & Bowell, E. 1996, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society Near-Earth Asteroid Physical Observations: 1993-1995
• Schober, H. J., Erikson, A., Hahn, G., Lagerkvist, C. I., & Oja, T. 1993, Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series Physical Studies of Asteroids. Part XXVI. Rotation and Photoelectric Photometry of Asteroids 323, 350, 582, 1021 and 1866
• Hahn, Gerhard & Lagerkvist, Claes-Ingvar 1987, Celestial Mechanics Orbital evolution studies of planet-crossing asteroids.
• McFadden, L. A. & Ahearn, M. F. 1986, NASA Reports of Planetary Astronomy Planet-crossing asteroids: Interrelationships within the solar system
• McCrosky, R. E. & Marsden, B. G. 1986, NASA Reports of Planetary Astronomy Astrometric observations of comets and asteroids and subsequent orbital investigations
• Seki, T., Giclas, H. L., Kantz, M. L., Wild, P., & Marsden, B. G. 1973, International Astronomical Union Circular 1972 XA.
• 1973, Komet. Tsirk., No. 141 Fast moving object Wild, 1972 XA.
• Marsden, B. G. 1973, International Astronomical Union Circular 1972 XA.
• Ruhnow, D., Petermann, S., Kohoutek, L., Dieckvoss, M., Wild, P., & Milet, B. 1973, International Astronomical Union Circular 1972 XA.
• Wild, P., Milet, B., & Schürer, M. 1973, International Astronomical Union Circular 1972 XA.
• Meeus, J. 1973, Ciel et Terre Nouvelles brèves: La petite Planète 1972 XA
• Seki, T., Wild, P., Rickman, H., Tidblad, Shao, C. Y., & Marsden, B. G. 1972, International Astronomical Union Circular 1972 XA (object Wild).

  ---

  © 2008 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
  Last modified 1 February 2008.
  Return to Home. Return to Astronomy and Space. Return to Asteroids with Satellites.