Astronomy:63305 Bobkepple

From HandWiki
63305 Bobkepple
Discovery [1]
Discovered byD. Healy
Discovery siteJunk Bond Obs.
Discovery date17 March 2001
Designations
(63305) Bobkepple
Named afterGeorge "Bob" Kepple
(deep-sky astronomer)[2]
2001 FE
Minor planet categorymain-belt · (outer)[1]
Hygiea[3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc21.90 yr (7,998 days)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}3.6936 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.7077 AU
3.2006 AU
Eccentricity0.1540
Orbital period5.73 yr (2,091 days)
Mean anomaly221.60°
Mean motion0° 10m 19.56s / day
Inclination5.5602°
Longitude of ascending node179.85°
135.54°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter6.216±0.181 km[4]
Geometric albedo0.055±0.004[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)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.

Orbit and classification

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]

Physical characteristics

Rotation period

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]

Diameter and albedo

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]

Naming

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]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2063305. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(63305) Bobkepple [3.20, 0.16, 5.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 223. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2658. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Asteroid 63305 Bobkepple – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. https://sbntools.psi.edu/ferret/SimpleSearch/results.action?targetName=63305+Bobkepple#Asteroid%2063305%20BobkeppleEAR-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 2 September 2017. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=63305. 
  6. 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. 
  7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html. 

External links