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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.
| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | NEAT |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 19 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 arc | 22.15 yr (8,090 days) |
| Aphelion | 3.3368 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.8107 AU |
| 3.0737 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0856 |
| 5.39 yr (1,968 days) | |
| 249.53° | |
| 0° 10m 58.44s / day | |
| Inclination | 9.5889° |
| 14.167° | |
| 50.931° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 6.947±0.799 km[4] |
| 0.160±0.057[4] | |
| 14.1[1] | |
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]
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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]
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This minor planet was named after Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died 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]
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