34351 Decatur
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | L. Ball |
| Discovery site | Emerald Lane Obs. |
| Discovery date | 3 September 2000 |
| Designations | |
| 34351 Decatur | |
Named after | Decatur (U.S. city)[2] |
| 2000 RZ8 · 1996 YW3 1998 HF58 | |
| main-belt | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 16 February 2017 (JD 2457800.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 24.00 yr (8,765 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.1501 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.7401 AU |
| 2.9451 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0696 |
| 5.05 yr (1,846 days) | |
| 30.726° | |
| 0° 11m 42s / day | |
| Inclination | 1.2968° |
| 343.30° | |
| 85.128° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 3.535±0.267[3] 5±2 km (calculated)[4] |
| 0.224±0.043[3] | |
| 14.7[1] | |
34351 Decatur, provisional designation 2000 RZ8, is an asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 September 2000, by American amateur astronomer Loren C. Ball at his U.S. Emerald Lane Observatory in Decatur, Alabama.[5]
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 1 month (1,846 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The first precovery was taken at Steward Observatory (Kitt Peak-Spacewatch) in 1992, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 8 years prior to its discovery.[5] As of 2016, Decatur's composition and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.[1] Based on an absolute magnitude of 14.7, its diameter is calculated to measure between 3 and 7 kilometers, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25.[4]
The minor planet is named after the city of Decatur in the U.S. state of Alabama, location of the discovering observatory and home of the discoverer. Decatur is located near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.[2] Naming citation was published on 27 April 2002 (M.P.C. 45345).[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 34351 Decatur (2000 RZ8)" (2015-12-31 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (34351) Decatur. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 891. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ a b 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. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ a b "34351 Decatur (2000 RZ8)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
External links
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (30001)-(35000) – Minor Planet Center
- 34351 Decatur at the JPL Small-Body Database
