Amphitrite is the 22th largest asteroid currently known.
Discovery
Amphitrite was discovered by Albert Marth on March 1, 1854, at the private South Villa Observatory, in Regent's Park, London. It was Marth's only asteroid discovery.
Naming
The asteroid's name was chosen by George Bishop, the owner of the observatory, who named it after Amphitrite, a sea goddess in Greek mythology.
In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon. Under the influence of the Olympian pantheon, she became merely the consort of Poseidon, and was further diminished by poets to a symbolic representation of the sea.
Stats
Diameter (mean): 212 km
Aphelion: 2.739 AU
Perihelion: 2.369 AU
Semi-major axis: 2.555 AU
Orbital Period: 4.08 years
Rotation period: 5.392 hrs
Date discovered: 1854.3.1
Class: S
Satellite: 1 ?
Type: Main-belt Asteroid
(data from JPL Small-Body Database)
Orbit
Amphirite's orbit is less eccentric and inclined than those of its larger cousins; indeed, it has one of the most circular of asteroid orbits.
Amphirite can reach magnitudes of around +8.6 at a favorable opposition, but usually is around the binocular limit of +9.5.
Satellite
A satellite of the asteroid is suspected based on lightcurve data collected by Edward F. Tedesco.
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