2285 Ron Helin, provisional designation 1976 QB, is a stony Florian asteroid from the inner region of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 August 1976, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.[5]
Orbit and characterization
Ron Helin is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,208 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. Its rotation period is 12 hours.[1]
Naming
This minor planet was named in honor of Ronald Helin, husband of American astronomer Eleanor Helin (1932–2009), in appreciation of his support of the Palomar Planet-Crossing Asteroid Survey (PCAS).[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 11 December 1981 (M.P.C. 6531).[6]
References
- ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2285 Ron Helin (1976 QB)" (2017-03-11 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2285) Ron Helin". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2285) Ron Helin. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 186. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2286. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ a b c d e "LCDB Data for (2285) Ron Helin". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Behrend, Raoul. "Asteroids and comets rotation curves – (2285) Ron Helin". Geneva Observatory. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "2285 Ron Helin (1976 QB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
External links
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
- 2285 Ron Helin at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 2285 Ron Helin at the JPL Small-Body Database