description 63 Ausonia Overview
63 Ausonia is a main-belt asteroid discovered in 1861 by the Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis at the Capodimonte Observatory in Naples. It is named after Ausonia, a poetic name for Italy. The object is classified as an S-type asteroid, a group generally associated with stony, silicate-rich compositions. As a numbered main-belt asteroid, it follows an orbit around the Sun within the region between Mars and Jupiter.
help 63 Ausonia FAQ
Who discovered asteroid 63 Ausonia?
It was discovered in 1861 by the Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis at the Capodimonte Observatory in Naples. De Gasparis was one of the most prolific asteroid hunters of the nineteenth century.
What does the name Ausonia mean?
Ausonia is a classical, poetic name for Italy, so the asteroid honors its Italian discoverer's homeland. The naming follows de Gasparis's tradition of classical references.
What type of asteroid is 63 Ausonia?
It is classified as an S-type asteroid, the stony, silicate-rich group common in the inner main belt. It orbits between Mars and Jupiter and measures roughly 100 kilometers across.
What else did Annibale de Gasparis discover?
Over his career he discovered nine asteroids, including the large 10 Hygiea in 1849 and 11 Parthenope. Several of his discoveries, like Ausonia, carry Mediterranean or classical names.
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