7066 Nessus

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7066 Nessus is a centaur (a type of icy planetoid) that was discovered by David Rabinowitz, working with Spacewatch, at Kitt Peak on 26 April 1993. It was the second centaur found by David (5145 Pholus being his previous find), and the third centaur discovery (2060 Chiron was the first.) It was officially announced on May 13, 1993 in IAUC 5789 with designation 1993 HA₂.

[edit] Orbit

7066 Nessus has an orbital period of 121.7 years, an eccentricity of 0.52 and an inclination to the ecliptic of 15.6 degrees. At perihelion, it moves closer to the Sun than Uranus, while at aphelion it moves out past the orbit of Neptune.

[edit] Name

The naming of Nessus is an interesting break from tradition. Three astrologers were independently studying 1993 HA2 to see if it had any astrological significance. These were Zane B. Stein in the USA, and Dieter Koch and Robert Von Heeren in Germany. In separate letters to astronomers David Rabinowitz, Alan Stern, Jim Scotti and Dr. Brian Marsden, these astrologers made their suggestion of Nessus as the name for this body.

Dr. Marsden gave his support to the suggested name, and recommended it to the IAU. This name was approved, and 1993 HA₂ was officially renamed 7066 Nessus on April 22, 1997. This naming was an unprecedented cooperation between astrologers and astronomers.