Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | D. Healy |
Discovery site | Junk Bond Obs. |
Discovery date | 17 March 2001 |
Designations | |
(63305) Bobkepple | |
Named after | George "Bob" Kepple (deep-sky astronomer) [2] |
2001 FE | |
main-belt · (
outer)
[1] Hygiea [3] | |
Orbital characteristics [1] | |
Epoch 23 March 2018 ( JD 2458200.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
Observation arc | 21.90 yr (7,998 days) |
Aphelion | 3.6936 AU |
Perihelion | 2.7077 AU |
3.2006 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.1540 |
5.73 yr (2,091 days) | |
221.60 ° | |
0° 10m 19.56s / day | |
Inclination | 5.5602° |
179.85° | |
135.54° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 6.216±0.181 km [4] |
0.055±0.004 [4] | |
14.8 [1] | |
63305 Bobkepple ( provisional designation 2001 FE) is a carbonaceous Hygiean asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 17 March 2001, by astronomer David Healy at the Junk Bond Observatory in Arizona, United States. [5] The asteroid was named after Bob Kepple, co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide.
Bobkepple is a member of the Hygiea family ( 601), [3] a large family of carbonaceous outer-belt asteroids, named after 10 Hygiea, the main belt's fourth-largest asteroid. [6] It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 9 months (2,091 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 6 ° with respect to the ecliptic. [1]
The body's observation arc begins with a precovery image taken by Spacewatch in March 1995, six years prior to its official discovery observation at Junk Bond Observatory. [5]
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Bobkepple has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, spin axis and shape remains unknown. [1]
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Bobkepple measures 6.216 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.055. [4]
This minor planet was named after deep-sky astronomer George Robert Kepple, creator of the "Astro Cards" observing aids and co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, popular among deep-sky observers. [2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 4 May 2004 ( M.P.C. 51982). [7]
Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | D. Healy |
Discovery site | Junk Bond Obs. |
Discovery date | 17 March 2001 |
Designations | |
(63305) Bobkepple | |
Named after | George "Bob" Kepple (deep-sky astronomer) [2] |
2001 FE | |
main-belt · (
outer)
[1] Hygiea [3] | |
Orbital characteristics [1] | |
Epoch 23 March 2018 ( JD 2458200.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
Observation arc | 21.90 yr (7,998 days) |
Aphelion | 3.6936 AU |
Perihelion | 2.7077 AU |
3.2006 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.1540 |
5.73 yr (2,091 days) | |
221.60 ° | |
0° 10m 19.56s / day | |
Inclination | 5.5602° |
179.85° | |
135.54° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 6.216±0.181 km [4] |
0.055±0.004 [4] | |
14.8 [1] | |
63305 Bobkepple ( provisional designation 2001 FE) is a carbonaceous Hygiean asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 17 March 2001, by astronomer David Healy at the Junk Bond Observatory in Arizona, United States. [5] The asteroid was named after Bob Kepple, co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide.
Bobkepple is a member of the Hygiea family ( 601), [3] a large family of carbonaceous outer-belt asteroids, named after 10 Hygiea, the main belt's fourth-largest asteroid. [6] It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 9 months (2,091 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 6 ° with respect to the ecliptic. [1]
The body's observation arc begins with a precovery image taken by Spacewatch in March 1995, six years prior to its official discovery observation at Junk Bond Observatory. [5]
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Bobkepple has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, spin axis and shape remains unknown. [1]
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Bobkepple measures 6.216 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.055. [4]
This minor planet was named after deep-sky astronomer George Robert Kepple, creator of the "Astro Cards" observing aids and co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, popular among deep-sky observers. [2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 4 May 2004 ( M.P.C. 51982). [7]