(2261) Keeler

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Asteroid
(2261) Keeler
Properties of the orbit ( animation )
Orbit type Inner main belt
Asteroid family Phocaea family
Major semi-axis 2.378  AU
eccentricity 0.237
Perihelion - aphelion 1.815 AU - 2.942 AU
Inclination of the orbit plane 22.739 °
Length of the ascending node 102.759 °
Argument of the periapsis 99.473 °
Time of passage of the perihelion 22nd August 2017
Sidereal period 3.67 a
Physical Properties
Medium diameter 7.323 ± 0.209 km
Albedo 0.266 ± 0.047
Rotation period 23.1 h
Absolute brightness 13.0 likes
history
Explorer Arnold R. Klemola
Date of discovery April 20, 1977
Another name 1977 HC
Source: Unless otherwise stated, the data comes from JPL Small-Body Database Browser . The affiliation to an asteroid family is automatically determined from the AstDyS-2 database . Please also note the note on asteroid items.

(2261) Keeler ( 1977 HC ) is an asteroid of the main inner belt that was discovered on April 20, 1977 by the American astronomer Arnold R. Klemola at the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton , California ( IAU code 662). The asteroid belongs to the Phocaea family, a group of asteroids named after (25) Phocaea .

designation

(2261) Keeler was named after the American astrophysicist James Edward Keeler (1857–1900). He was one of the pioneers of astrophysics and the second director of the Lick Observatory. He measured the wavelength of planetary nebula and confirmed the particle nature of the rings of Saturn . On December 6, 1899, he discovered the asteroid of the main outer belt (452) Hamiltonia . The moon tract Keeler and the Martian crater Keeler are also named after him.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Lutz D. Schmadel : Dictionary of Minor Planet Names . Fifth Revised and Enlarged Edition. Ed .: Lutz D. Schmadel. 5th edition. Springer Verlag , Berlin , Heidelberg 2003, ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7 , pp. 184 (English, 992 pp., Link.springer.com [ONLINE; accessed November 2, 2017] Original title: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names . First edition: Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg 1992): “Named in memory of James Edward Keeler (1857–1900) ”