841 Arabella is a minor planet—commonly referred to as an asteroid—situated within the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on 5 February 1916 by the German astronomer Max Wolf at the Heidelberg Observatory in Germany. Upon discovery, the object received the provisional designation 1916 AM, and it was later assigned the permanent number 841. The name “Arabella” is a feminine given name; the specific reason for this choice has not been published in the Minor Planet Center’s official naming citations, and the origin of the name remains undocumented in publicly available astronomical literature.
Orbital classification
841 Arabella is classified as a background (non‑family) asteroid of the main belt. It follows an orbit that lies in the outer region of the belt, typical of asteroids with semi‑major axes near 3 AU, orbital periods of roughly 5–6 years, and moderate orbital inclinations. Precise orbital elements (e.g., exact semi‑major axis, eccentricity, and inclination) are recorded in the JPL Small‑Body Database and the Minor Planet Center’s catalogue and may be consulted for detailed dynamical studies.
Physical characteristics
The asteroid’s spectral type, diameter, albedo, and rotation period have not been definitively determined and are not listed in major asteroid databases as of the latest updates (2023). Consequently, specific physical parameters are currently unavailable or are based on limited observations that lack peer‑reviewed confirmation.
Observational data
Observations of 841 Arabella have been conducted by numerous ground‑based observatories since its discovery, contributing to the refinement of its orbital parameters. Photometric and spectroscopic data, where available, have not yielded a consensus classification regarding its composition (e.g., C‑type, S‑type, etc.).
Naming
The citation for the name “Arabella” is absent from the official naming records published by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). As a result, the motivations behind the selection of this particular name remain undocumented in the accessible scholarly record.
References and data sources
- Minor Planet Center (MPC) database entry for 841 Arabella.
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small‑Body Database Browser, object 841.
Note: Information presented reflects the current state of publicly available astronomical records. Absence of detailed physical data indicates that such characteristics have not been conclusively measured or published.
