372 Palma

372 Palma is a large main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Auguste Charlois on August 19, 1893, in Nice, France.

Discovery and Naming

Palma was named after Palma, Majorca, a city in Spain. The choice of this name is not directly linked to any specific event or person related to the discovery itself, unlike many asteroid names which honor scientists or other notable figures.

Physical Characteristics

Palma is a C-type asteroid, which means it is carbonaceous in composition and thus has a very dark surface. Its diameter is estimated to be around 192 kilometers, making it one of the larger asteroids in the main belt. Its surface is thought to be relatively primitive, preserving materials from the early solar system. Studies of its lightcurve suggest that it has a fairly long rotation period, lasting approximately 7.43 hours.

Orbit and Classification

Palma orbits the Sun in the main asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Its orbital parameters include a semi-major axis of approximately 3.19 astronomical units (AU) and a moderate eccentricity. This causes its distance from the Sun to vary somewhat during its orbit. It belongs to the Cybele group of asteroids which are in the outer main belt and characterized by their similar orbital elements.

Observations and Studies

Due to its size, Palma has been the subject of various astronomical observations. Studies of its spectral properties have confirmed its carbonaceous composition. Observations have also been used to refine its size and shape estimates and to study its rotational properties. While radar observations are useful in better determining asteroid shapes, there are no known specific radar observations of 372 Palma available in public databases.

Significance

As a large C-type asteroid, Palma is important for understanding the composition and evolution of the early solar system. Carbonaceous asteroids are thought to be relatively unchanged since their formation, and thus provide insights into the materials that were present during the planet formation process. The study of Palma contributes to the broader understanding of the distribution of materials within the asteroid belt and the processes that shaped the solar system.