From February 23 until March 2, 2006, photometric measurements were taken of the asteroid. These were used to produce a light curve showing a rotation periodof7.80±0.02 h with a brightness variation of 0.16±0.03inmagnitude. This result is consistent with some, but not all previous results. Some studies had suggested a longer rotation period of 15.959 h; double the time measured. However, the new data is inconsistent with the longer period.[4]
In May 1979, 268 Adorea was positioned in proximity of the galaxy NGC 4517 and as a bright new light source it was identified as a potential supernova. However, the light was missing from a second photographic plate taken ten days later, and the source was soon identified as the asteroid.[5]
The name refers to adorea liba, the Latin name for spelt cakes produced from meal and salt offered by the Romans as a sacrifice; the name was controversial among astronomers, as all previous asteroids had been named for humans or mythological figures.[6][7]
^Stephens, Robert D. (December 2006). "Asteroid lightcurve photometry from Santana and GMARS observatories - winter and spring 2006". Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. 33 (4): 100–101. Bibcode:2006MPBu...33..100S.
^West, R. (September 1979). "The Supernova that Was'nt - 268 Adorea". The Messenger (18): 14. Bibcode:1979Msngr..18...14W.
