6726 Suthers
{{Short description|Main-belt asteroid}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| name = 6726 Suthers
| background = #D6D6D6
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| discovered = 5 August 1991
| discoverer = H. E. Holt
| discovery_site = Palomar Obs.
| mpc_name = (6726) Suthers
| alt_names = 1991 PS{{·}}{{mp|1986 AG|2}}
| named_after = Paul Sutherland
{{small|(author and journalist)}}
| mp_category = main-belt{{·}}{{small|(inner)}}
background
| epoch = 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
| uncertainty = 0
| observation_arc = 63.66 yr (23,250 days)
| aphelion = 2.5004 AU
| perihelion = 2.0740 AU
| semimajor = 2.2872 AU
| eccentricity = 0.0932
| period = 3.46 yr (1,263 days)
| mean_anomaly = 96.351°
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.2849|sup=ms}} / day
| inclination = 4.2993°
| asc_node = 277.71°
| arg_peri = 146.31°
| dimensions = {{val|3.455|0.404}}
| rotation =
| albedo = {{val|0.207|0.050}}
| spectral_type =
}}
6726 Suthers, provisional designation {{mp|1991 PS}}, is a background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately {{convert|3.5|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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 named after author Paul Sutherland.
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.
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.
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.
References
{{reflist|refs=
|type = 2017-05-04 last obs.
|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6726 Suthers (1991 PS)
|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2006726
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170312032210/http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2006726
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 12 March 2017
|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory
|access-date = 21 June 2017}}
|title = 6726 Suthers (1991 PS)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=6726
|access-date = 9 March 2017}}
|display-authors = 6
|first1 = Joseph R. |last1 = Masiero
|first2 = T. |last2 = Grav
|first3 = A. K. |last3 = Mainzer
|first4 = C. R. |last4 = Nugent
|first5 = J. M. |last5 = Bauer
|first6 = R. |last6 = Stevenson
|first7 = S. |last7 = Sonnett
|date = August 2014
|title = Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos
|url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?bibcode=2014ApJ...791..121M
|journal = The Astrophysical Journal
|volume = 791
|issue = 2
|page = 11
|bibcode = 2014ApJ...791..121M
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121
|arxiv = 1406.6645
|access-date= 9 March 2017}}
}}
External links
- [http://spacestories.com/ SpaceStories.com] – Paul Sutherland
- [http://skymania.com/wp Skymania website]
- [http://www.popastro.com The Society for Popular Astronomy website]
- [http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/lcdbsummaryquery.php Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)], query form ([http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216050541/http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html |date=16 December 2017 }})
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=aeAg1X7afOoC&pg Dictionary of Minor Planet Names], Google books
- [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs005001.html Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (5001)-(10000)] – Minor Planet Center
- {{AstDys|6726}}
- {{JPL small body}}
{{Minor planets navigator |6725 Engyoji |number=6726 |(6727) 1991 TF4}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suthers}}