222 Lucia

222 Lucia is a main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on February 9, 1882, in Vienna, Austria.

Discovery and Naming:

Lucia was one of many asteroids discovered by Palisa, a prolific asteroid hunter. The name "Lucia" is derived from the Latin word for "light," and it was chosen to honor Countess Wilczek, daughter of Austro-Hungarian Admiral Count Johann Nepomuk Wilczek, on her name day. The Wilczek family provided financial support for the Vienna Observatory.

Orbital Characteristics:

Lucia orbits the Sun within the main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter. Its orbital period is approximately 4.6 years. The asteroid's orbit is characterized by a moderate eccentricity and inclination.

Physical Characteristics:

Lucia is classified as a C-type asteroid, which indicates a carbonaceous composition. These asteroids are typically dark in color and have low albedo, meaning they reflect only a small percentage of the sunlight that hits them. Based on observations, its diameter is estimated to be around 54 kilometers. Little is known about its rotation period or shape.

Significance:

While not particularly remarkable in terms of size or composition compared to other main-belt asteroids, Lucia contributes to our understanding of the distribution and characteristics of objects in the asteroid belt. Its discovery highlights the important role of observatories and individual astronomers in mapping the solar system.