(3552) Don Quixote

Template: Infobox Asteroid / Maintenance / Error 1

( 3552 ) Don Quixote is an asteroid Cupid type that was discovered on September 26, 1983 by Paul Wild at the European Southern Observatory in La Silla. It was named after the legendary Don Quixote.

Don Quixote's web is highly inclined to the ecliptic and is generally more characteristic of the orbit of a comet. Its low albedo, and classification as a D-type asteroid are also typical for the core of a comet. It is therefore assumed that Don Quixote is the core of an extinct comet. Observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light ( 4.5 microns ) have shown, however, that Don Quixote is still active. The observed activity both coma and a tail could be proved is caused by the sublimation of CO2 ice, the subsequent excitation of the corresponding emission bands. It is currently not clear whether the activity is stable, or is only a short burst, triggered by the recent impact of a smaller body, was in the subsurface CO2 ice exposed.

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