6566 Shafter
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | T. Urata |
| Discovery site | Nihondaira Observatory |
| Discovery date | 25 October 1992 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | 6566 Shafter |
Named after |
Allen Shafter (astronomer)[2] |
|
1992 UB2 · 1977 EJ4 1985 QR5 · 1989 YA6 | |
| main-belt | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 27 June 2015 (JD 2457200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 38.39 yr (14,022 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.6634 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.8901 AU |
| 2.2767 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1698 |
| 3.44 yr (1,255 days) | |
| 234.73° | |
| Inclination | 3.9444° |
| 156.58° | |
| 205.06° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions |
6+3 −2 km (calculated)[3] |
| 14.0[1] | |
|
| |
6566 Shafter, provisional designation 1992 UB2, is an asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, roughly 6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Japanese astronomer Takeshi Urata at Nihondaira Observatory in Shimizu, Japan, on 25 October 1992.[4]
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.9–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,255 days). Its orbit shows an eccentricity of 0.17 and is tilted by 4 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic.[1] Little is known about the asteroids size, composition, albedo and rotation, despite having a well-observed orbit with the lowest possible uncertainty (i.e. a condition code of 0) and an observation arc that spans over a period of 40 years.[1]
Based on its absolute magnitude of 14.0, its diameter could be anywhere between 4 and 9 kilometers, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25.[3] Since asteroids in the inner main-belt are often of a silicaceous rather than of a carbonaceous composition, with relatively high albedos, typically around 0.22, the asteroid's diameter might be on the lower end of NASA's published conversion table, as the higher the reflectivity (albedo), the smaller the body's diameter for a given brightness (absolute magnitude).[3]
The minor planet is named after American astronomer Allen Shafter (b. 1955), professor at San Diego State University. His research includes the study of extragalactic novae.[2][5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6566 Shafter (1992 UB2)" (2015-08-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved January 2016.
- 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (6566) Shafter. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 519. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7. Retrieved January 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
- ↑ "6566 Shafter (1992 UB2)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved January 2016.
- ↑ "Allen Shafter". San Diego State University – Department of Astronomy. Retrieved January 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 (5001)-(10000) – Minor Planet Center
- 6566 Shafter at the JPL Small-Body Database
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