14627 Emilkowalski (prov. designation: 1998 VA) is a stony asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 7 November 1998, by American astronomer Richard Kowalski at the Quail Hollow Observatory (761) in Zephyrhills, Florida, United States.[11] The asteroid is the namesake of the recently formed Emilkowalski family of asteroids.[3] It was named after Emil Kowalski, mentor of the discoverer.[2]
Emilkowalski orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.0 AU once every 4 years and 2 months (1,531 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 18° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
Emilkowalski is the biggest member and namesake of a collisional group of asteroids, that resulted from the destruction of a larger parent body. The disruption happened approximately 220,000 years ago and it is one of the most recent asteroid breakups discovered in the main belt.[9][12] The recently formed stony Emilkowalski family (family identification number: 523) consist of only 4 identified members.[3]: 8, 24 The other members are (126761) 2002 DW10, (224559) 2005 WU178 and (256124) 2006 UK337.[13]
This minor planet is named after American Emil Kowalski (1918–1994) from Syosset, New York, who inspired the discoverer of space science when he was still a child.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 4 August 2001 (M.P.C. 43192).[14]
Emilkowalski has been characterized as a rare DL-type by Pan-STARRS photometric survey.[10] It has also been assigned a taxonomic type of a darker carbonaceous and a common stony asteroid, respectively.[8][3]: 24
Between January and March 2012, photometric observations for this asteroid were made by a team led by Petr PravecatOndřejov Observatory, Czech Republic. The three obtained rotational lightcurves gave an identical periodof11.131 hours with a brightness variation of 0.55, 0.64 and 0.65 in magnitude, respectively (U=3/2+/3-).[a] Previously, in 2008, a lightcurve was obtained from observations at the Simeiz Observatory and the Chuguev Observing Station (121) in Ukraine, as well as at Maidanak Observatory in Uzbekistan. It also gave a period of 11.131 hours with an amplitude of 0.85 in magnitude, which implies an elongated shape (U=n.a.).[9]
According to the surveys carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Emilkowalski measures between 6.98 and 7.84 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.09 and 0.201.[4][5][6][7]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for carbonaceous asteroids of 0.057 and hence calculates a larger diameter of 10.6 kilometers.[8]
^ abPravec (2012) web: 3 rotational light-curves constructed in January, February and March 2012, gave a rotation period 11.131 hours (for all three lightcurves) with a brightness amplitude of 0.55, 0.64 and 0.66 in magnitude, respectively. Summary figures for (14627) Emilkowalski at LCDB and at Ondrejov Asteroid Photometry Project
^Broz, M.; Morbidelli, A.; Bottke, W. F.; Rozehnal, J.; Vokrouhlický, D.; Nesvorný, D. (March 2013). "Constraining the cometary flux through the asteroid belt during the late heavy bombardment". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 551: 16. arXiv:1301.6221. Bibcode:2013A&A...551A.117B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219296.
