The moon of 702 Alauda is the 12th largest moon of the asteroids currently known.
Discovery
P . Rojo, Universidad de Chile; and J. L. Margot, Cornell University, reported the discovery on July 26, 2007 of a satellite of 702 Alauda from adaptive-optics imaging with the ESO 8-m Very Large Telescope UT4/YEPUN on Cerro Paranal, Chile.
The satellite was observed at two epochs on each of two consecutive nights. On July 26, the companion was at a separation of 0".58 (projected separation about 900 km).
The primary-to-secondary H-band flux ratio is about 1250, yielding a diameter ratio of about 35.
Naming
The moon was given the temporary designation S/2007(702)1.
The moon has been named Pichi üñëm, which means "little bird" in the Mapuche language of Chile, the country from which the moon was discovered.
Stats
Diameter (estimated): 5.5 km
Semi-major axis: 900 km
Orbital Period: 3 days ?
Rotation period: ?
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