5535 Annefrank
5535 Annefrank is an asteroid located in the asteroid belt, which lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This belt contains thousands of asteroids, with 5535 Annefrank being one of the larger ones at approximately 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide. Classified as an S-class asteroid, it primarily consists of silicates and metals such as nickel and iron, and it is notable for being one of the brighter asteroids of its type, indicating a relatively newer origin. Discovered in 1942 by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth, the asteroid was named in honor of Anne Frank, the Jewish diarist who perished during the Holocaust.
In 2002, the NASA Stardust spacecraft captured extensive images of 5535 Annefrank, revealing its unique irregular shape resembling a triangular prism and a surface marked by angular features and few craters. This research highlights the significance of asteroids as remnants of the solar system's early formation, providing insights into the history of celestial bodies. The study of such asteroids not only enhances our understanding of space but also serves as a reminder of the cultural and historical contexts associated with their names.
5535 Annefrank
FIELDS OF STUDY: Sub-planetary Astronomy; Observational Astronomy; Cosmology
ABSTRACT: 5535 Annefrank is an asteroid that is part of the asteroid belt in the solar system. Discovered in 1942, this asteroid was named for the famous World War II diarist Anne Frank. The NASA Discovery Stardust spacecraft captured images of 5535 Annefrank during a flyby in 2002.
Asteroid Belt
5535 Annefrank is an asteroid. Like most asteroids in the solar system, it is found in the asteroid belt. The asteroid belt is an oval-shaped ring between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It is about 2 to 4 astronomical units (186 to 370 million miles) from the sun. Scientists estimate that the belt contains more than two hundred asteroids larger than 97 kilometers (60 miles) in diameter and thousands more of smaller sizes. 5535 Annefrank is about 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide.
Asteroids are believed to be rocky debris left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Scientists theorize that after the gas giant Jupiter formed, its massive gravity caused many small bodies nearby to collide. This created the objects known as asteroids.
As an S-class asteroid, 5535 Annefrank is made mainly of silicates (stone) and metals like nickel and iron. It is one of the brighter S-class asteroids. This suggests that it may be a newer space object.
Characteristics of 5535 Annefrank
German astronomer Karl Reinmuth (1892–1979) discovered 5535 Annefrank in 1942. It was the 5535th asteroid found. The asteroid was later given the name of the famous World War II diarist Anne Frank, who died in a German concentration camp.
Images of 5535 Annefrank were taken by the NASA Discovery Stardust spacecraft in 2002. They show a highly irregular object that appears to be shaped like a triangular prism with three sides. Its surface looks quite angular with many flat planes.
Stardust Mission
The NASA Stardust mission photographed the asteroid in November 2002 on its way to the comet 81P/Wild 2. Stardust took more than seventy images of 5535 Annefrank during a fifteen-minute period. These images captured about 40 percent of the asteroid’s surface. They highlight features such as the asteroid’s irregular triangular shape, few visible craters, and relative brightness.
PRINCIPAL TERMS
- asteroid: a small, irregularly shaped space object that is made of rock, silicates, and metals, and orbits the sun in the solar system.
Bibliography
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