astro.wikisort.org - Asteroid

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 name after author Paul Sutherland.[2]

6726 Suthers

Discovery [1]
Discovered by	H. E. Holt
Discovery site	Palomar Obs.
Discovery date	5 August 1991
Designations
MPC designation	(6726) Suthers
Named after	Paul Sutherland (author and journalist)[2]
Alternative designations	1991 PS · 1986 AG2
Minor planet category	main-belt · (inner) background
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	63.66 yr (23,250 days)
Aphelion	2.5004 AU
Perihelion	2.0740 AU
Semi-major axis	2.2872 AU
Eccentricity	0.0932
Orbital period (sidereal)	3.46 yr (1,263 days)
Mean anomaly	96.351°
Mean motion	0° 17m 5.64s / day
Inclination	4.2993°
Longitude of ascending node	277.71°
Argument of perihelion	146.31°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	3.455±0.404[3]
Geometric albedo	0.207±0.050[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.9[1]

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

External links

• SpaceStories.com – Paul Sutherland
• Skymania website
• The Society for Popular Astronomy website
• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (5001)-(10000) – Minor Planet Center
• 6726 Suthers at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 6726 Suthers at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters

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