3554 Amun

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3554 Amun
Discovery
Discovered by Carolyn and
Eugene Shoemaker
Discovery date March 4, 1986
Designations
Named after Amun
Alternate name(s) 1986 EB
Minor planet
category
Aten asteroid,
Venus-crosser asteroid
Epoch July 14, 2004 (JD 2453200.5)
Aphelion 186.532 Gm (1.247 AU)
Perihelion 104.807 Gm (0.701 AU)
Semi-major axis 145.669 Gm (0.974 AU)
Eccentricity 0.281
Orbital period 350.964 d (0.96 a)
Average orbital speed 29.58 km/s
Mean anomaly 196.415°
Inclination 23.363°
Longitude of ascending node 358.680°
Argument of perihelion 359.368°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 2.5 ? km
Mass ~1.6×1013 kg
Mean density 2 ? g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity ? m/s²
Escape velocity ? km/s
Rotation period 0.1054 d 1
Albedo ? 2
Temperature ~280 K
Spectral type M-type asteroid
Absolute magnitude (H) 15.82

3554 Amun is an M-type Aten asteroid (meaning it crosses Earth's orbit) and a Venus-crosser. It was discovered on 4 March 1986 by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at Mount Palomar Observatory. Its estimated diameter is 2.5 kilometers, making it one of the smallest known M-type asteroids.

Amun was once considered metallic, based on its M-type spectrum. However, like the asteroids 22 Kalliope and 21 Lutetia, the radar albedo of the object is inconsistent with a metallic composition. In Mining the Sky, planetary scientist John S. Lewis calculated the value of 3554 Amun at $20 trillion dollars [1].

(6178) 1986 DA is another M-type near-Earth asteroid with lower inclination that is actually metallic.

Amun passes closest to Venus, and in 1964, 2034, and 2103 comes within 10 Gm of it. [2]

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