This is a list of tumblers, that is, small Solar System bodies or moons that do not rotate in a fairly constant manner with a constant period. Instead of rotating around a constant axis or around an axis that itself moves evenly, they appear to tumble (see Poinsot's ellipsoid for an explanation). For true tumbling, the three moments of inertia must be different. If two are equal, then the axis of rotation will simply precess in a circle. As of 2018, there are 3 natural satellites and 198 confirmed or likely tumblers out of a total of nearly 800,000 discovered small Solar System bodies. The data is sourced from the "Lightcurve Data Base" (LCDB). The tumbling of a body can be caused by the torque from asymmetrically emitted radiation known as the YORP effect.
Note that the rotation periods given below are apparent periods and are not constant for a tumbler. There is another definition of rotation, sometimes called intrinsic rotation, that relates to how the point on the object which is oriented along the axis of angular momentum moves around a principal axis on the object. The period for this rotation is constant, but may be quite different from the apparent rotation period. For example, for 99942 Apophis it is around 263 hours, whereas the apparent period is only around 31 hours.
Natural satellites (moons)
This is a list of tumbling natural satellites (moons) that orbit planets and dwarf planets in the Solar System. Moon Satellite ofRotation period(days) Δmag Diameter(km)Abs. mag(H)Refs Hyperion Saturn ~13 Nix Pluto 1.829 Hydra Pluto 0.4295
Small Solar System bodies # Small Solar System bodies Tumbler Rotation period(hours) Δmag Quality(U) Class Tax. Diameter(km) Abs. mag(H) Refs (Select number or name of the object) (status) (flag) 103P/Hartley suspected 18.1 – 2 comet C 2.20 17.02 1I/'Oumuamua secure 7.9 2.50 2 rogue comet D? 22.08 secure 0.2 1.10 3 NEO S 0.04 24.44 suspected 51.7 1.12 2 NEO S 0.10 22.30 secure 20 1.30 3 NEO S 0.36 19.23 secure 0.1 1.16 3 NEO S 0.02 25.70 suspected 16.7 0.80 2+ NEO S 0.11 22.20 suspected 0.1 1.14 2 NEO S 0.01 26.80 suspected 0.2 1.90 1 NEO S 0.06 23.60 secure 26 1.00 2 NEO S 0.26 20.30 suspected 42 0.36 2 NEO S 0.19 21.00 secure 0 1.02 3 NEO F 0.00 30.90 suspected 42.3 1.08 2 NEO S 0.12 22.00 suspected 5 1.24 2 NEO S 0.05 24.00 suspected 1.8 – n.a. NEO S 0.06 23.50 secure 2.9 0.85 3 NEO S 0.11 22.20 secure 0.2 0.95 3- NEO S 0.06 23.60 secure 0.1 2.00 3- NEO S 0.04 24.30 suspected 6 1.80 2 NEO S 0.18 21.10 suspected 2.3 1.02 2 NEO S 0.08 22.90 suspected 0 – n.a. NEO S 0.04 24.60 suspected 24.2 1.18 3- NEO S 0.20 20.90 secure 0.2 0.93 3 NEO S 0.01 26.70 secure 1.9 1.06 3- NEO S 0.07 23.10 suspected 64.6 0.68 2 NEO S 0.52 18.80 secure 32.6 0.75 3- NEO S 0.30 20.00 secure 0.2 1.60 3 NEO S 0.04 24.50 secure 3 0.96 3 NEO S 0.07 23.10 suspected 14.4 0.45 2 NEO S 0.12 21.90 suspected 2 0.89 2 NEO S 0.07 23.30 secure 0.4 0.69 3 NEO S 0.04 24.30 secure 6.4 1.16 3- NEO S 0.21 20.80 suspected 46.3 0.59 2 NEO S 0.25 20.40 secure 0 0.96 3 NEO S 0.01 29.00 secure 0.2 0.55 3- NEO S 0.03 25.20 suspected 28.5 1.08 2 NEO S 0.20 20.90 secure 0.4 1.00 3 NEO S 0.02 25.80 secure 1.8 1.25 3 NEO S 0.03 25.10 secure 14.5 0.53 2+ NEO S 0.06 23.50 suspected 1.8 0.14 1 NEO S 0.07 23.10 secure 3.6 1.30 3 NEO S 0.02 26.10 secure 2.5 1.10 2+ NEO S 0.15 21.50 secure 0.7 1.09 3 NEO S 0.04 24.50 333P/LINEAR suspected 21 0.45 2 comet C – – 460P/PANSTARRS secure 36.6 0.32 2 NEC – – – 253 Mathilde secure 417.7 0.50 3 MBA C 58.01 10.30 288 Glauke secure 1170 0.90 3 MBA S 32.24 10.00 319 Leona secure 430 0.50 3 MBA C 68.01 10.10 341 California secure 318 0.92 3 Flora S 14.67 10.55 437 Rhodia secure 433.2 0.35 3- MBA S 14.46 10.71 496 Gryphia secure 1072 1.25 3 Flora S 15.47 11.61 571 Dulcinea secure 126.3 0.50 3 MBA S 14.29 11.59 703 Noëmi suspected 200 0.78 2 Flora S 8.58 12.50 763 Cupido secure 151.5 0.45 3- Flora S 8.97 12.60 1264 Letaba suspected 32.7 0.28 3 MBA C 74.29 9.70 1278 Kenya secure 188 0.75 3 MBA S 20.56 10.80 1451 Granö secure 138 0.65 2+ Flora S 7.13 13.10 1455 Mitchella suspected 118.7 0.60 2+ Flora S 7.47 12.80 1473 Ounas secure 139.1 0.60 3 MBA S 17.62 11.70 1479 Inkeri secure 660 1.30 2+ MBA XFU 17.52 11.90 1512 Oulu suspected 132.3 0.33 2+ Hilda P 82.72 9.62 1536 Pielinen secure 66.2 0.85 3 Flora S 7.82 12.70 1573 Väisälä suspected 252 0.76 2 Phocaea S 9.81 12.20 1689 Floris-Jan suspected 145 0.40 3 MBA S 16.21 11.74 1703 Barry suspected 107.1 0.50 3 Flora S 9.54 12.10 1750 Eckert secure 375 0.87 3- Hungaria S 6.97 13.15 1775 Zimmerwald secure 122 0.60 2+ Eunomia S 11.55 12.00 1989 Tatry suspected 131.3 0.50 2 Vestian C 17.60 12.50 2000 Herschel secure 130 1.16 2 MBA S 16.71 11.25 2035 Stearns secure 93 0.70 2+ Hungaria Xe 5.28 13.00 2045 Peking secure 82.4 0.80 2 Vestian S 11.83 12.00 2554 Skiff suspected 273 0.90 2 Flora S 7.82 12.70 2672 Pisek suspected 831 0.90 2+ Eunomia S 9.60 12.40 2675 Tolkien suspected 1060 0.75 2+ Flora S 9.85 12.20 2705 Wu secure 150.5 1.20 3- Flora S 6.21 13.20 2731 Cucula suspected 61.6 0.40 2+ MBA C 50.85 10.80 2733 Hamina suspected 93.2 0.48 2 MBA S 8.18 12.80 2942 Cordie secure 80 1.10 2 Flora S 6.81 13.00 3160 Angerhofer suspected 44.7 0.32 2 Erigone C 11.11 13.50 3288 Seleucus secure 75 1.00 3 NEO S 2.20 15.50 3447 Burckhalter secure 59.8 0.39 3 Hungaria E 7.63 12.20 3691 Bede secure 226.8 0.50 2 NEO X 1.83 15.22 3833 Calingasta secure 199 1.20 3 Mars crosser C 2.59 15.30 4142 Dersu-Uzala suspected 140 0.60 2 Hungaria S 7.13 13.10 4179 Toutatis secure 176 1.46 3 NEO S 2.45 15.30 4450 Pan secure 56.5 0.64 3 NEO S 1.13 17.10 4678 Ninian suspected 56.7 1.04 3- Flora S 5.17 13.60 4690 Strasbourg secure 69.2 0.80 2 Hungaria E 4.62 13.60 4718 Araki suspected 46.4 0.16 2 Vestian S 7.13 13.10 4750 Mukai suspected 38.3 0.40 2 Flora S 4.50 13.90 4902 Thessandrus secure 738 0.60 2 Jupiter trojan C 61.04 9.80 5171 Augustesen suspected 480 0.80 3 Vestian S 6.50 13.30 5202 Charleseliot suspected 183 0.58 2 MBA S 9.53 13.37 5247 Krylov secure 81.5 1.50 2 Phocaea S 10.06 12.20 5378 Ellyett secure 47.3 0.48 2 Hungaria C 4.22 13.80 5577 Priestley secure 160 0.85 3- Hungaria S 4.30 14.20 secure 30.4 0.70 2 NEO S 1.65 17.24 5851 Inagawa suspected 367.5 0.90 3 Eunomia S 9.60 12.40 5887 Yauza suspected 54.8 0.30 2 Flora S 5.93 13.30 5967 Edithlevy secure 66 0.70 3- Hungaria E 4.22 13.80 6063 Jason secure 48.6 0.12 2 NEO S 1.96 15.90 6183 Viscome suspected 453 0.90 3- Mars crosser S 5.41 13.70 6192 Javiergorosabel secure 78.9 0.95 3 MBA S 7.39 12.80 6271 Farmer suspected 250 0.22 2 Hungaria E 4.62 13.60 6461 Adam secure 74 0.76 2 Hungaria E 3.35 14.30 6779 Perrine suspected 72.3 1.16 2 Flora S 4.30 14.00 secure 648 0.30 3- Jupiter trojan C 58.29 9.90 7421 Kusaka secure 96.5 0.70 2 MBA S 8.39 13.50 7430 Kogure secure 335.9 0.57 2 MBA S 7.82 12.90 suspected 146.8 0.93 3- MBA S 5.93 13.50 8130 Seeberg suspected 38.1 0.42 3- Hilda C 24.30 11.80 suspected 97.1 1.04 2 NEO S 3.11 14.90 9739 Powell suspected 109 0.40 2 Hungaria E 3.82 13.70 suspected 69 1.30 3- Phocaea S 6.96 13.00 11579 Tsujitsuka suspected 56.6 1.19 2 Eunomia S 5.28 13.70 suspected 375 0.80 3- Jupiter trojan C 29.21 11.40 13553 Masaakikoyama secure 38 1.10 2 NEO S 1.38 16.71 secure 33.6 1.20 3 NEO S 0.73 18.05 14395 Tommorgan secure 35.5 0.61 2+ Hungaria E 2.11 15.30 14764 Kilauea secure 19.8 1.20 2 Hungaria E 2.79 14.70 suspected 250 0.30 2- Jupiter trojan C 46.30 10.40 16064 Davidharvey secure 178.5 0.70 2 NEO C 4.10 16.56 16589 Hastrup secure 128 0.62 2 Hungaria E 2.19 14.96 suspected 275 0.41 2 Hilda C 21.16 12.10 suspected 708 0.43 3- Phocaea S 6.06 13.30 secure 4.6 0.56 3- MBA S 5.16 13.80 19763 Klimesh suspected 101 0.67 2 Phocaea S 7.29 13.27 suspected 178 0.70 2 Hungaria E 3.85 14.00 suspected 68.1 1.04 2 Hilda C 16.81 12.60 secure 30.9 1.61 2 Hungaria E 2.66 14.80 secure 49.9 0.60 2 Mars crosser S 3.74 14.50 secure 58.3 0.35 2 Hungaria E 2.02 15.40 suspected 47 0.15 2 MBA S 5.00 13.91 secure 99 0.80 2+ Phocaea S 4.60 13.90 29292 Conniewalker secure 30.6 0.63 3- Phocaea S 4.57 13.59 secure 64 0.80 2 Mars crosser S 3.41 14.70 33319 Kunqu suspected 105 0.90 2+ Hungaria E 2.43 15.00 suspected 211 0.40 2 MBA C 10.61 13.60 suspected 82 0.75 2- Hungaria E 2.79 14.70 secure 56.5 1.22 2 Hungaria E 2.92 14.60 suspected 990 0.55 2 Mars crosser S 3.92 14.40 suspected 216 1.50 3 NEO S 0.36 19.60 secure 140 0.85 2 Hungaria E 2.02 15.40 suspected 223.5 0.92 2 NEO S 2.15 15.70 secure 894 1.32 2 Phocaea S 3.49 14.50 suspected 87 1.30 2- Hungaria E 1.40 16.20 secure 136 0.70 2 NEO X 7.00 15.20 secure 37.6 1.40 3 NEO S 2.97 15.00 secure 46.1 0.55 2 NEO S 1.88 16.00 suspected 7.1 0.36 2+ Hungaria E 2.11 15.30 suspected 68.5 1.31 2 Hungaria E 2.54 14.90 65637 Tsniimash secure 220 0.90 3 Hungaria E 3.35 14.30 secure 36.7 0.60 3- Hungaria E 2.32 15.10 suspected 31.8 0.95 2 Hungaria E 2.11 15.30 79316 Huangshan suspected 493 0.62 2+ Hungaria E 2.66 14.80 suspected 25 0.90 1+ NEO S 0.75 18.00 suspected 68.4 0.87 2+ NEO S 0.71 18.10 suspected 34.5 1.10 2- NEO Q 2.22 16.10 suspected 206 0.85 2 NEO S 1.24 16.90 secure 14.4 0.90 2 NEO S 0.26 20.29 99942 Apophis secure 30.6 1.14 3 NEO Q 0.35 19.09 suspected 72.4 0.51 2 MBA C 3.35 16.10 suspected 60.8 1.40 3 Phocaea C 2.65 15.10 secure 25.4 0.65 2+ Hungaria E 1.60 15.90 suspected 124 0.55 2- Flora S 1.97 15.70 suspected 78.6 1.05 2+ NEO S 1.24 16.90 suspected 114.4 1.60 3 NEO S 1.88 16.00 secure 125 1.35 2 NEO S 1.42 16.60 suspected 161 0.96 2 NEO S 0.57 18.60 secure 13.5 1.11 3 NEO S 0.68 18.20 secure 60.6 0.56 3 NEO S 2.06 15.80 suspected 151.1 1.70 3 NEO S 2.47 15.40 suspected 285 2.20 2+ NEO S 1.03 17.30 secure 46.1 1.00 3 Mars crosser S 1.30 16.80 suspected 2.5 0.20 1 Mars crosser S 3.74 14.50 suspected 260 0.87 2 Mars crosser S 2.84 15.10 suspected 37.5 0.43 2 NEO S 0.54 18.70 secure 102.2 0.58 3 NEO S 1.38 16.67 secure 51.9 1.20 3 NEO Q 0.71 18.10 suspected 31.1 0.96 2+ NEO S 0.65 18.30 suspected 180 0.36 2 NEO S 1.42 16.60 suspected 39.1 0.92 2 NEO S 0.78 17.90 suspected 71 0.85 2 Mars crosser S 3.41 14.70 secure 45.5 0.65 2 NEO S 2.25 15.60 367943 Duende secure 8.7 1.79 3 NEO S 0.05 24.00 suspected 31.7 0.92 2+ NEO S 0.57 18.60 secure 38 1.20 2 NEO S 0.52 18.80 suspected 49 0.17 2 NEO S 0.36 19.60 suspected 44.2 0.56 2 NEO S 0.25 20.40 398188 Agni secure 22 1.12 2 NEO S 0.37 19.50 secure 2.9 2.00 3 NEO S 0.40 19.90 suspected 135 1.10 2 NEO S 0.75 18.00 secure 66.8 0.80 2 NEO S 0.71 18.10 secure 36 0.38 2 NEO S 0.39 19.40 suspected 71.3 1.00 2 NEO S 0.33 19.80 suspected 21.8 1.16 2+ NEO S 0.24 20.50 suspected 15 0.21 2- NEO S 0.34 19.70 secure 37.9 0.80 2 NEO S 0.47 19.00
See also List of slow rotators (minor planets) List of fast rotators (minor planets)
Notes
References
External links Those Tumbling Asteroids, The Messenger (1976), ESA JPL Small-Body Database Browser