Astronomy:51826 Kalpanachawla

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51826 Kalpanachawla
Discovery [1]
Discovered byNEAT
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date19 July 2001
Designations
(51826) Kalpanachawla
Named afterKalpana Chawla [2]
(Indo-American astronaut)
2001 OB34 · 1999 FB57
Minor planet categorymain-belt · (outer)
Eos[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc22.15 yr (8,090 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}3.3368 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.8107 AU
3.0737 AU
Eccentricity0.0856
Orbital period5.39 yr (1,968 days)
Mean anomaly249.53°
Mean motion0° 10m 58.44s / day
Inclination9.5889°
Longitude of ascending node14.167°
50.931°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.947±0.799 km[4]
Geometric albedo0.160±0.057[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)14.1[1]


51826 Kalpanachawla (provisional designation 2001 OB34) is an Eoan asteroid in the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 July 2001, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named for Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Orbit and classification

Kalpanachawla is a member the Eos family (606),[3] the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids.[5]:23 It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.8–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 5 months (1,968 days; semi-major axis of 3.07 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak Observatory in April 1994, more than 7 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[6]

Physical characteristics

The asteroid's spectral type is unknown.[1] Members of the Eos family are typically K-type asteroids.[5]:23

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Kalpanachawla measures 6.947 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.160.[4]

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Kalpanachawla has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[1][7]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (M.P.C. 49283).[8] The following asteroids were also named in memory of the other six members of STS-107: 51823 Rickhusband, 51824 Mikeanderson, 51825 Davidbrown, 51827 Laurelclark, 51828 Ilanramon and 51829 Williemccool.[2][9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2051826. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(51826) Kalpanachawla [3.08, 0.08, 9.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 216. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2555. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Asteroid 51826 Kalpanachawla – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. https://sbntools.psi.edu/ferret/SimpleSearch/results.action?targetName=51826+Kalpanachawla#Asteroid%2051826%20KalpanachawlaEAR-A-VARGBDET-5-NESVORNYFAM-V3.0. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J. et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal 741 (2): 20. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Bibcode2011ApJ...741...68M. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2011ApJ...741...68M. Retrieved 28 December 2017. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 978-0-8165-3213-1. Bibcode2015aste.book..297N. 
  6. "51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=51826. 
  7. "LCDB Data for (51826) Kalpanachawla". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=51826%7CKalpanachawla. 
  8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html. 
  9. "Kalpana chawla Asteroid 51826". World News IN. 6 December 2010. http://www.worldnewsin.com/world-news/kalpana-chawla-asteroid-51826/. 

External links