4954 Eric Explained

Minorplanet:yes
Background:
  1. FFC2E0
4954 Eric
Discovered:23 September 1990
Mpc Name:(4954) Eric
Alt Names:1990 SQ
Perihelion:1.10393AU
Aphelion:2.8993abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Semimajor:2.0016AU
Eccentricity:0.44848
Period:2.83 yr (1034.4 d)
Inclination:17.4461°
Dimensions:10.8 km
Rotation:12.052 hours
Abs Magnitude:12.6
Epoch:13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Asc Node:358.52°
Arg Peri:52.429°
Mean Motion: / day
Mean Radius:5.4 km
Observation Arc:14681 days (40.19 yr)
Uncertainty:0
Moid:0.194843AU

4954 Eric (prov. designation:) is an eccentric, stony asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group, approximately 11km (07miles) in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer Brian Roman at Palomar Observatory on 23 September 1990. The asteroid was named after its discoverer's son, Eric Roman.

It is the largest near-Earth asteroid discovered since 3552 Don Quixote in 1983. On 2007 October 11 the asteroid passed 0.2865abbr=onNaNabbr=on from Earth. It currently makes closer approaches to Mars than it does Earth. The asteroid has a rotation period of 12.05 hours.

Other large near-Earth asteroids include 1036 Ganymed (32 km), 3552 Don Quixote (19 km), 433 Eros (17 km), and 1866 Sisyphus (8.5 km).[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Philip A. Bland. Elaine A. Moore. Ian Wright. Mike Widdowson. An Introduction to the Solar System. 2004. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-54620-1. 394.