(2404) Antarctica

Template: Infobox Asteroid / Maintenance / Error 1

( 2404) Antarctica is one of the major outer asteroid belt, which on 1 October 1980 by the Czech astronomer Antonín Mrkos on Kleť Observatory (IAU code 046) was discovered in Český Krumlov.

Unconfirmed sightings of the asteroid there had been before: 1933 (1933 BP) and on April 15, 1934 (1934 GQ ) at the Heidelberg State Observatory king chair, on 7 June 1951 ( 1951 LN) at the McDonald Observatory in Texas, in October 1969 (1969 TH5 ) at the Crimean Observatory in Nautschnyj and on 25 November 1976 ( 1976 WG) at the Catalina station in Arizona.

( 2404) Antarctica is part of the Themis family, a group of asteroids, which was named after ( 24) Themis. Although Themis asteroid spectroscopy are usually C- asteroids, so have a dark surface, was in an investigation after FORMING classification (Small Main -Belt Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey) by Gianluca Masi, Sergio Foglia and Richard P. Binzel ( 2404) Antarctica classified as S- asteroid. After this rough study of the asteroid would have a rather bright surface.

( 2404) Antarctica is named after the continent of Antarctica. Antonín Mrkos had participated in the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition in the International Geophysical Year in 1957/58. The appointment was made at the suggestion of Mrkos by the International Astronomical Union ( IAU) on February 8, 1992.