63305 Bobkepple
Asteroid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
(deep-sky astronomer)[2]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | D. Healy |
| Discovery site | Junk Bond Obs. |
| Discovery date | 17 March 2001 |
| Designations | |
Named after | George "Bob" Kepple (deep-sky astronomer)[2] |
| 2001 FE | |
| main-belt · (outer)[1] Hygiea[3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 21.90 yr (7,998 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.6936 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.7077 AU |
| 3.2006 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1540 |
| 5.73 yr (2,091 days) | |
| 221.60° | |
| 0° 10m 19.56s / day | |
| Inclination | 5.5602° |
| 179.85° | |
| 135.54° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 6.216±0.181 km[4] | |
| 0.055±0.004[4] | |
| 14.8[1] | |
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]
