It has a highly inclined comet-like orbit of 31 degrees that leads to frequent perturbations by Jupiter.[8] Don Quixote measures 18.4 kilometres in diameter and has a rotation period of 7.7 hours.[1][4]
Due to its comet-like orbit and albedo, Don Quixote has been suspected to be an extinct comet.[9] However, infrared observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope at 4.5 μm revealed a faint coma and tail around the object.[4] The cometary activity is inferred by carbon dioxide (CO2) molecular band emission. In March 2018 a tail was observed at visible wavelengths for the first time.[10] The observation of cometary features during two apparitions suggests that cometary activity is recurrent and Don Quixote is most likely a weakly active comet.[11]
Notes
^Magnitudes generated with JPL Horizons for the year 1950 through 2100
^Mommert, Michael (March 2018). "CBET 4502: 20180329 : (3552) DON QUIXOTE". Central Bureau of Electronic Telegrams (Harvard) – via Central Bureau of Astronomical Telegrams (Harvard).
^Mommert, Michael; Hora, Joseph L.; Trilling, David E.; Biver, Nicolas; Wierzchos, Kacper; Harrington Pinto, Olga; Agarwal, Jessica; Kim, Yoonyoung; McNeill, Andrew; Womack, Maria; Knight, Matthew M.; Polishook, David; Moskovitz, Nick; Kelley, Michael S. P.; Smith, Howard A. (1 June 2020). "Recurrent Cometary Activity in Near-Earth Object (3552) Don Quixote". The Planetary Science Journal. 1 (1): 12. doi:10.3847/PSJ/ab8ae5.