3963 Paradzhanov, provisional designation , is an asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 8 October 1969, by astronomer Lyudmila Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj, on the Crimean peninsula. The asteroid was named after Soviet film director Sergei Parajanov (Sargis Paradzhanov) in 1996.
Orbit and classification
Paradzhanov is a member of the Nysa–Polana complex, a collection of overlapping asteroid families in the inner main-belt. Paradzhanov has a relatively high albedo (see below) which places it into the stony subgroup of the complex.
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.0–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,392 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.20 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with its identification as at the discovering observatory in Nauchnyj in March 1979, almost 10 years after its official discovery observation.
Physical characteristics
Rotation period
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Paradzhanov has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Paradzhanov measures 5.779 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.192.
Naming
This minor planet was named in memory of Georgian–Soviet film director Sergei Parajanov (1924–1990) (Sargis Paradzhanov). In 1965, he became internationally acknowledged with his feature film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, but also a target of the Soviet regime. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 3 May 1996 ().
References
External links Sergei Parajanov, website Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info ) Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center