51826 Kalpana Chawla, provisional designation Template:Mp, 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 (Template:Small),[1] the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids.[2]Template:Rp 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]Template:Rp
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 (Template:Small).[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
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External links
- NASA JPL - Space Shuttle Columbia Tribute page
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
- 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
- Template:AstDys
- Template:JPL small body
Template:Minor planets navigator
Template:Small Solar System bodies