51826 Kalpanachawla

51826 Kalpana Chawla, 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.

Orbit and classification

Kalpanachawla is a member the Eos family (606),[1] the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids.[2]: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.[3]

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.[4]

Physical characteristics

The asteroid's spectral type is unknown.[3] Members of the Eos family are typically K-type asteroids.[2]:23

Diameter and albedo

According 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.[5]

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Kalpanachawla has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[3][6]

Naming

This minor planet was named after Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003.[7] 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.[7][9]

References
  1. "Asteroid 51826 Kalpanachawla – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. 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 9780816532131.
  3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)" (2016-06-08 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. "51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  5. 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. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  6. "LCDB Data for (51826) Kalpanachawla". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  7. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(51826) Kalpanachawla [3.08, 0.08, 9.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (51826) Kalpanachawla, Addendum to Fifth Edition: 2003–2005. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 216. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2555. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
  8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  9. "Kalpana chawla Asteroid 51826". World News IN. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.

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