51826 Kalpanachawla
Discovery [1]
Discovered byNEAT
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date19 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 arc22.15 yr (8,090 days)
Aphelion3.3368 AU
Perihelion2.8107 AU
3.0737 AU
Eccentricity0.0856
5.39 yr (1,968 days)
249.53°
0° 10m 58.44s / day
Inclination9.5889°
14.167°
50.931°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.947±0.799 km[4]
0.160±0.057[4]
14.1[1]

    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.

    Orbit and classification

    Kalpanachawla 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

    The asteroid's spectral type is unknown.[1] Members of the Eos family are typically K-type asteroids.[5]: 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.[4]

    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.[1][7]

    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.[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

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)" (2016-06-08 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 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.
    3. 1 2 "Asteroid 51826 Kalpanachawla – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
    4. 1 2 3 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.
    5. 1 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 978-0-8165-3213-1. S2CID 119280014.
    6. ↑ "51826 Kalpanachawla (2001 OB34)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
    7. ↑ "LCDB Data for (51826) Kalpanachawla". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
    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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