1114 Lorraine


1114 Lorraine, provisional designation, is a very dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 70 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Alexandre Schaumasse at Nice Observatory in 1928, and named for the French region of Lorraine.

Discovery

Lorraine was discovered on 17 November 1928, by French astronomer Alexandre Schaumasse at the Nice Observatory in southeastern France. On the following night, it was independently discovered by Italian astronomer Luigi Volta at the Observatory of Turin, Italy. The Minor Planet Center recognizes only the first discoverer. The asteroid was first observed as at Heidelberg Observatory in October 1906.

Orbit and classification

Lorraine is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. Conversely, the asteroid is also considered a core member of the Eos family. It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.9–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 5 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins at Nice Observatory in November 1928, one night after its official discovery observation.

Physical characteristics

In the SMASS classification, Lorraine is an Xc-subtype, transiting from the X-type to the C-type asteroids.

Rotation period

In January 2005, a rotational lightcurve of Lorraine was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer Laurent Bernasconi. Analysis of the fragmentary lightcurve gave a longer-than-average rotation period of 32 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.16 magnitude. As of 2018, no secure period has been obtained.

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Lorraine measures between 62.20 and 80.30 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.03 and 0.0501.
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link derives an albedo of 0.0457 and a diameter of 62.15 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 10.0.

Naming

This minor planet was named after the region of Lorraine, the former Duchy of Lorraine in north-eastern France, and a remnant of the medieval kingdom of Lotharingia.