51826 Kalpanachawla (provisional designation 2001 OB34) is an Eoan asteroid in the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 July 2001, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named for Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | NEAT |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 19 July 2001 |
| Designations | |
| (51826) Kalpanachawla | |
Named after | Kalpana Chawla [2] (Indo-American astronaut) |
| 2001 OB34 · 1999 FB57 | |
| main-belt · (outer) Eos [3] | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 22.15 yr (8,090 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.3368 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.8107 AU |
| 3.0737 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0856 |
| 5.39 yr (1,968 days) | |
| 249.53° | |
| 0° 10m 58.44s / day | |
| Inclination | 9.5889° |
| 14.167° | |
| 50.931° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 6.947±0.799 km[4] |
| 0.160±0.057[4] | |
| 14.1[1] | |
Orbit and classification
editKalpanachawla is a member the Eos family (606),[3] the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids.[5]: 23 It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.8–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 5 months (1,968 days; semi-major axis of 3.07 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak Observatory in April 1994, more than 7 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[6]
Physical characteristics
editThe asteroid's spectral type is unknown.[1] Members of the Eos family are typically K-type asteroids.[5]: 23
Diameter and albedo
editAccording to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Kalpanachawla measures 6.947 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.160.[4]
Rotation period
editAs of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Kalpanachawla has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[1][7]
Naming
editThis minor planet was named after Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (M.P.C. 49283).[8] The following asteroids were also named in memory of the other six members of STS-107: 51823 Rickhusband, 51824 Mikeanderson, 51825 Davidbrown, 51827 Laurelclark, 51828 Ilanramon and 51829 Williemccool.[2][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)" (2016-06-08 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(51826) Kalpanachawla [3.08, 0.08, 9.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 216. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2555. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
- ^ a b "Asteroid 51826 Kalpanachawla – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ a b c 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. S2CID 118745497. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ a b Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 978-0-8165-3213-1. S2CID 119280014.
- ^ "51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "LCDB Data for (51826) Kalpanachawla". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Kalpana chawla Asteroid 51826". World News IN. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
External links
edit- NASA JPL - Space Shuttle Columbia Tribute page Archived 22 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (50001)-(55000) – Minor Planet Center
- 51826 Kalpanachawla at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 51826 Kalpanachawla at the JPL Small-Body Database
