52 Europa

52 Europa

Orbital characteristics 1
Orbit type	Main belt (Hygiea )
Semimajor axis	3.098 AU
Perihelion distance	2.784 AU
Aphelion distance	3.412 AU
Orbital period	5.45 years
Inclination	7.47°
Eccentricity	0.101
Physical characteristics
Diameter	289 km
Rotation period 3	5.633 hours
Spectral class 1	C
Abs. magnitude 1	6.31
Albedo 1 4	0.058
History 2
Discoverer	H. Goldschmidt, 1858

52 Europa, diameter 289 km, was discovered on February 4, 1858 by H. Goldschmidt. It is named after Europa, one of Zeus's conquests in Greek mythology.

Europa is the ninth largest known main belt asteroid and very dark in color. It belongs to the Hygiea asteroid family .

It should not be confused with Jupiter's moon Europa.

External links

• http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Bright/2003/00052.html