63305 Bobkepple
Discovery [1]
Discovered byD. Healy
Discovery siteJunk Bond Obs.
Discovery date17 March 2001
Designations
(63305) Bobkepple
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 arc21.90 yr (7,998 days)
Aphelion3.6936 AU
Perihelion2.7077 AU
3.2006 AU
Eccentricity0.1540
5.73 yr (2,091 days)
221.60°
0° 10m 19.56s / day
Inclination5.5602°
179.85°
135.54°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
6.216±0.181 km[4]
0.055±0.004[4]
14.8[1]

    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.

    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]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)" (2017-01-26 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(63305) Bobkepple [3.20, 0.16, 5.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 223. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2658. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
    3. 1 2 "Asteroid 63305 Bobkepple – 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. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
    5. 1 2 "63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
    6. ↑ 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.
    7. ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
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