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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Paul Götz |
| Discovery site | Heidelberg |
| Discovery date | 3 October 1904 |
| Designations | |
| (545) Messalina | |
| Pronunciation | /mɛsəˈliːnə/[1] or /mɛsəˈlaɪnə/[2] |
| 1904 OY | |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 111.54 yr (40741 d) |
| |{{{apsis}}}|helion}} | 3.7428 astronomical unit|AU (559.91 Gm) |
| |{{{apsis}}}|helion}} | 2.6600 AU (397.93 Gm) |
| 3.2014 AU (478.92 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.16912 |
| Orbital period | 5.73 yr (2092.2 d) |
| Mean anomaly | 305.368° |
| Mean motion | 0° 10m 19.416s / day |
| Inclination | 11.204° |
| Longitude of ascending node | 333.638° |
| 330.686° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mean radius | 55.645±2.15 km |
| Rotation period | 7.2 h (0.30 d) |
| Geometric albedo | 0.0415±0.003 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 8.84 |
Messalina (minor planet designation: 545 Messalina) is a minor planet, specifically an asteroid orbiting primarily in the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 3 October 1904 by Paul Götz (provisional name 1904 OY), at Heidelberg. It is named after Valeria Messalina, the third wife of Roman Emperor Claudius.[4][5][6]