570 Kythera is a numbered minor planet (asteroid) located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Discovery
- Date of discovery: 1905
- Discoverer: Max Wolf, a German astronomer
- Observatory: Heidelberg‑Königstuhl State Observatory, Germany
Naming
The asteroid is named after Kythera (also spelled Kythira), a Greek island situated off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. The naming follows the tradition of assigning mythological or geographical names to minor planets.
Orbital classification
570 Kythera is classified as a main‑belt asteroid. It is not known to belong to any specific asteroid family and is considered part of the background population of the main belt.
Physical characteristics
- Absolute magnitude (H): Approximately 10.5 (indicative of a modestly sized asteroid)
- Estimated diameter: Roughly 30–40 kilometres, derived from its absolute magnitude and an assumed albedo typical for dark, carbonaceous asteroids.
Observational data
The asteroid has been observed repeatedly since its discovery, allowing its orbit to be determined with sufficient precision for inclusion in the Minor Planet Center’s database.
References
- Minor Planet Center (MPC) database entry for 570 Kythera.
- “Dictionary of Minor Planet Names” (Lutz D. Schmadel, 2003), which records the naming citation.
No additional verifiable information regarding spectral type, rotation period, or detailed orbital elements is currently available in publicly accessible encyclopedic sources.