77185 Cherryh

77185 Cherryh, provisional designation 2001 FE9, is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 20 March 2001, by American amateur astronomers Don Wells and Alex Cruz at the George Observatory in Needville, Texas. The dark asteroid was named for American writer C. J. Cherryh.[1]

77185 Cherryh
Orbital diagram of Cherryh
Discovery [1]
Discovered byD. Wells
A. Cruz
Discovery siteGeorge Obs.
Discovery date20 March 2001
Designations
(77185) Cherryh
Named after
C. J. Cherryh [1]
(American writer)
2001 FE9 · 1998 TG27
main-belt [1][2] · (middle)
background [3][4]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc27.71 yr (10,121 d)
Aphelion3.0501 AU
Perihelion2.1431 AU
2.5966 AU
Eccentricity0.1746
4.18 yr (1,528 d)
70.105°
0° 14m 8.16s / day
Inclination3.1456°
12.636°
231.33°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
3.985±0.166 km[5]
0.049±0.009[5]
15.9[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    Cherryh is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.[3][4] It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.1–3.1 AU once every 4 years and 2 months (1,528 days; semi-major axis of 2.6 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins in October 1990, with a precovery taken by Spacewatch, more than 10 years prior to its official discovery observation at Needville.[1]

    Naming

    This minor planet was named by the discovering members of the Fort Bend Astronomy Club (FBAC), after C. J. Cherryh (born 1942), the award-winning American science fiction and fantasy author.[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 13 July 2004 (M.P.C. 52327).[6]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Cherryh measures 3.985 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.049.[5] The asteroid's spectral type is unknown. Based on its low geometric albedo it is likely a carbonaceous C-type asteroid. As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of Cherryh has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2][7]

    References
    1. "77185 Cherryh (2001 FE9)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 77185 Cherryh (2001 FE9)" (2018-07-10 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
    3. "Asteroid 77185 Cherryh". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
    4. "Asteroid (77185) Cherryh – Proper elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
    5. 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. S2CID 118745497.
    6. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
    7. "LCDB Data for (77185) Cherryh". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 5 December 2018.

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