| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | E. F. Helin |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 2 November 1991 |
| Designations | |
| (6250) Saekohayashi | |
Named after | Saeko Hayashi (Japanese astronomer)[2] |
| 1991 VX1 · 1983 VP5 | |
| main-belt · (inner)[1] Hungaria[2][3] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 33.56 yr (12,259 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.0701AU |
| Perihelion | 1.7950 AU |
| 1.9326 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0712 |
| 2.69yr (981 days) | |
| 96.960° | |
| 0° 22m 0.84s / day | |
| Inclination | 19.788° |
| 226.56° | |
| 299.08° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 3.67 km(calculated)[3] |
| 82.6±0.5h[4] | |
| 0.30(assumed)[3] | |
| E[3] | |
| 14.1[1][3] · 14.17±0.26[5] | |
6250 Saekohayashi, provisional designation1991 VX1, is a brightHungaria asteroid and relativelyslow rotator from the inner regions of theasteroid belt, approximately 3.7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 2 November 1991, by American astronomerEleanor Helin atPalomar Observatory in California, and later named after Japanese astronomerSaeko Hayashi.[2]
Saekohayashi is a member of theHungaria family, which form theinnermost dense concentration of asteroids in theSolar System. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.8–2.1 AU once every 2 years and 8 months (981 days). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.07 and aninclination of 20° with respect to theecliptic.[1]
In November 1983, it was first identified as1983 VP5 at theKarl Schwarzschild Observatory, extending the body'sobservation arc by 8 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[2]
In 2009, a rotationallightcurve ofSaekohayashi was obtained by American astronomerBrian Warner at his Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado. It gave a longrotation period of82.6±0.5 hours with a high brightness variation of 0.78magnitude (U=2+).[4] A high brightness amplitude typically indicates that the body has a non-spheroidal shape. While not being aslow rotator, it has a notably longer than average period.
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a highalbedo of 0.30, typical forE-type asteroids, and calculates a diameter of 3.7 kilometers with anabsolute magnitude of 14.1.[3]
Thisminor planet was named after Japanese astronomerSaeko Hayashi (born 1958), associate professor at theNational Astronomical Observatory of Japan, who works with theSubaru Telescope. Her research includes the formation processes of planetary systems. Saeko is also dedicated to the popularization of astronomy in Hawaii and Japan and is an active member of theInternational Astronomical Union.[1][6] The official naming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center 15 February 1995(M.P.C. 24730).[7]
