Definition 594 Mireille is a minor planet, specifically an asteroid, located in the main asteroid belt of the Solar System. It is one of the numerous celestial bodies orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
Overview Discovered on October 21, 1906, by German astronomer August Kopff at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in Heidelberg, Germany, 594 Mireille was initially designated 1906 TW. It is classified as a C-type asteroid, meaning it is carbonaceous and characterized by a dark surface. Its orbit places it within the central region of the main asteroid belt.
Etymology/Origin The asteroid was named after Mireille, the heroine of Charles Gounod's 1864 opera of the same name. Gounod's opera itself is based on Mirèio, an epic Provençal poem by Frédéric Mistral, published in 1859. The naming follows the tradition of astronomers naming minor planets after mythological figures, literary characters, or significant persons.
Characteristics
- Classification: Main-belt asteroid (C-type).
- Spectral Type: C-type (carbonaceous), indicating a dark surface composed of primitive materials.
- Diameter: Approximately 33.66 kilometers.
- Rotation Period: It rotates on its axis once every approximately 9.274 hours.
- Orbital Period: It takes approximately 5.10 years to complete one orbit around the Sun.
- Orbital Elements (approximate):
- Semi-major axis: 2.96 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.17
- Inclination: 10.37° to the ecliptic
Related Topics
- Asteroids: Rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system around 4.6 billion years ago.
- Minor Planets: A celestial object in orbit around the Sun that is neither a planet nor exclusively a comet, including asteroids, dwarf planets, and centaurs.
- Main Asteroid Belt: The region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where the majority of asteroids are found.
- August Kopff: The discoverer of 594 Mireille and many other asteroids.
- Charles Gounod: French composer, particularly known for his operas, including Mireille.
- Frédéric Mistral: French poet who wrote Mirèio, the source material for Gounod's opera.