Motion of the asteroid (13206) 1997GC22 and the mass of (16) psyche

Abstract

From the perturbing effects of the asteroid (16) Psyche on the motion of the asteroid (13206) 1997GC22 the mass of (16) Psyche is determined. A close approach between these two asteroids at 0.00376 AU, and at a relative velocity of 0.74 km s-1, occured in July 1974. The value of (3.38 ± 0.28) 10-11 M⊙ has been found for the mass of (16) Psyche, which yields a density of (6.98 ± 0.58) g cm-3. These values are very different from those obtained by other authors, but the mass is much closer to the value based on the IRAS estimation of (16) Psyche diameter and its M-type taxonomical classification.