12373 Lancearmstrong

12373 Lancearmstrong
Discovery [1]
Discovered by C. P. de Saint-Aignan
Discovery site Palomar Obs.
Discovery date 15 May 1994
Designations
MPC designation 12373 Lancearmstrong
Named after
 Lance Armstrong
(road racing cyclist) [2]
1994 JE9 · 1997 AP22
main-belt
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 21.80 yr (7,961 days) 
Aphelion 2.7324 AU
Perihelion 2.1673 AU
2.4499 AU
Eccentricity 0.1153
3.83 yr (1,401 days)
200.02°
0° 15m 25.2s / day
Inclination 6.7539°
118.54°
149.81°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 5±1 km (est. at 0.20)[3]
14.2[1]

    12373 Lancearmstrong, provisional designation 1994 JE9, is an asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 15 May 1994, by American astronomer and software engineer Charles de Saint-Aignan after examining films taken at Palomar Observatory, California.[4]

    The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.2–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,401 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    Orbital diagram

    As of 2016, the asteroid's effective size, its composition and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remains unknown. Based on an absolute magnitude of 14.2, it measures between 4 and 8 kilometers in diameter, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25. Since asteroids in the inner main-belt are often of a silicaceous rather than of a carbonaceous composition, with albedos, typically around 0.20, its diameter is likely to be between 4 and 6 kilometers.[3]

    The minor planet was named after American Lance Armstrong (b. 1971), former professional road racing cyclist. Despite being diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer, he recovered and returned to cycling. At the time this minor planet was named, he had won the Tour de France three times and encouraged athletes and cancer survivors worldwide.[2][5] In 2012, he was stripped of his Tour de France victories after a doping scandal.

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 12373 Lancearmstrong (1994 JE9)" (2016-03-01 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved April 2016.
    2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (12373) Lancearmstrong. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 780. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved April 2016.
    3. 1 2 "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Retrieved April 2016.
    4. ↑ "12373 Lancearmstrong (1994 JE9)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved April 2016.
    5. ↑ Ash, Russell (10 November 2011). Boring, Botty and Spong. RHCP. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4090-9739-6.

    External links


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