 Orbital diagram ofRobheinlein | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | H. E. Holt |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 14 September 1990 |
| Designations | |
| (6312) Robheinlein | |
Named after | Robert A. Heinlein[1] (science fiction writer) |
| 1990 RH4 · 1982 BW2 | |
| main-belt[1][2] · (inner) background[3][4] · Augusta[5][6] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 36.26yr (13,244 d) |
| Aphelion | 2.3358AU |
| Perihelion | 2.0321 AU |
| 2.1839 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0695 |
| 3.23 yr (1,179 d) | |
| 114.41° | |
| 0° 18m 19.44s / day | |
| Inclination | 4.1155° |
| 157.25° | |
| 283.14° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 3.588±0.657 km[7] | |
| 0.314±0.109[7] | |
| L(SDSS-MOC)[8] | |
| 14.1[1][2] | |
6312 Robheinlein (prov. designation:1990 RH4) is a brightAugusta orbackground asteroid from the inner regions of theasteroid belt, that measures approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 14 September 1990, by American astronomerHenry Holt at thePalomar Observatory in California. The uncommonL-type asteroid was named for American science fiction writerRobert A. Heinlein.[1]
When applying thehierarchical clustering method to the asteroid'sproper orbital elements,Robheinlein is considered to be a member of theAugusta family (as perZappalà)[6] as well as a non-family asteroid from the main belt'sbackground population (as perNesvorný).[3][4]
It orbits the Sun in theinner asteroid belt at a distance of 2.0–2.3 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,179 days;semi-major axis of 2.18 AU). Its orbit has aneccentricity of 0.07 and aninclination of 4° with respect to theecliptic.[2] The body'sobservation arc begins with its first observation as1982 BW2 at theKleť Observatory in January 1982, more than 8 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[1]
Based on a suggestion by Belgian amateur astronomerJean Meeus, thisminor planet was named afterRobert Anson Heinlein (1907–1988), the Dean of Science Fiction, author of the mainstream literary classicStranger in a Strange Land, andscience fiction novelsStarship Troopers andThe Moon is a Harsh Mistress.[1] The official naming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 13 April 2006 (M.P.C. 56611).[9]
Heinlein helped narrateThe Moon Landing withWalter Cronkite on CBS in 1969, was involved in the planning of theStar Wars Defense program in the 1980s, contributed the wordsWaldo andGrok to the English language, and popularized the phrasesSpace Marine,TANSTAAFL, andPay it Forward.
Robheinlein is anL-type asteroid in theSDSS-based taxonomy. It has anabsolute magnitude of 14.1.[1][2] As of 2018, no rotationallightcurve has been obtained fromphotometric observations. The body'srotation period,pole and shape remain unknown.[2]
According to the survey carried out by theNEOWISE mission of NASA'sWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer,Robheinlein measures 3.588 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a highalbedo of 0.314.[7]
