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Tuesday 17 January 2012

10th Largest Asteroid, 107 Camilla

107 Camilla is a very large asteroid in the outer main asteroid belt. It is the 10th largest asteroid currently known.

Discovery

Camilla was discovered by Norman Robert Pogson on Nov 17, 1868 from Madras (Chennai), India.

Naming

Camilla the asteroid was named after Camilla, Queen of the Volsci in Roman mythology.

In Roman mythology, Camilla of the Volsci was the daughter of King Metabus and Casmilla. Driven from his throne, Metabus was chased into the wilderness by armed Volsci, his infant daughter in his hands. The river Amasenus blocked his path, and, fearing for the child's welfare, Metabus bound her to a spear. He promised Diana that Camilla would be her servant, a warrior virgin. He then safely threw her to the other side, and swam across to retrieve her.

Stats

Diameter (mean): 259 km
Semi-major axis: 3.50 AU
Orbital Period: 6.55 years
Rotation period: 4.844 hrs
Date discovered: 1868.11.17
Class: C
Group: Cybele group
Type: Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Satellite: 1

Orbit

Camilla is a member of the Cybele group located beyond the core of the asteroid belt.

Cybele asteroids are a group of asteroids in the outer main belt with a semi-major axis between 3.27 AU and 3.7 AU, an eccentricity less than 0.3, and an inclination less than 25°. The group is named for the asteroid 65 Cybele. As of 2010, the group is thought to have been formed by the breakup of larger object in the distant past.

Physical characteristics

Camilla has a very dark surface and primitive carbonaceous composition.

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