6726 Suthers

6726 Suthers
Discovery [1]
Discovered byH. E. Holt
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date5 August 1991
Designations
(6726) Suthers
Named after
Paul Sutherland
(author and journalist)[2]
1991 PS · 1986 AG2
main-belt · (inner)
background
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc63.66 yr (23,250 days)
Aphelion2.5004 AU
Perihelion2.0740 AU
2.2872 AU
Eccentricity0.0932
3.46 yr (1,263 days)
96.351°
0° 17m 5.64s / day
Inclination4.2993°
277.71°
146.31°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.455±0.404[3]
0.207±0.050[3]
13.9[1]

6726 Suthers, provisional designation 1991 PS, is a background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 5 August 1991, by American astronomer Henry E. Holt at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California. The asteroid was named after author Paul Sutherland.[2]

Orbit and classification

Suthers is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.1–2.5 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,263 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Naming

In 2012, this minor planet was officially named after Paul Sutherland, author and journalist, who has actively supported the UK-based Society for Popular Astronomy for many years, and who is known as "Suthers" to friends and colleagues. He is author of Where Did Pluto Go? and responsible for bringing many astronomical stories to a wider public.[2]

Physical characteristics

According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Suthers measures 3.455 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.207.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6726 Suthers (1991 PS)" (2017-05-04 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "6726 Suthers (1991 PS)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv:1406.6645. Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121. Retrieved 9 March 2017.