see § List of discovered minor planets |
Paul Arnold Wiegert (born 1967) is a Canadian astronomer, discoverer of minor planets and professor at the University of Western Ontario. [2]
Wiegert studies unusual orbits of both observed objects and theorised classes of objects, for example, one early paper [3] considers not-known-to-exist planets orbiting the nearby Alpha Centauri star system, while later papers extend that case to more general planetary stability in general binary systems (as exoplanet studies are finding increasingly frequently). This work in particular should be of interest to science fiction authors inventing universes.
Other areas of work include identifying the orbits of minor planets in the Solar System, which by virtue of their potential instability could realistically become major threats to civilization when one impacts on Earth again, as they have in the past. The Minor Planet Center credits him with the discovery of 80 numbered minor planets between 2003 and 2008. [1] Wiegert was also involved in the discovery of 3753 Cruithne, Earth's first known Trojan asteroid. [2] [4]
He was also the a member of the team that identified 524522 Zoozve, as a quasi-satellite of Venus, in 2004, two years after the actual discovery of the object. [5] [6]
The outer main-belt asteroid 15068 Wiegert was named in his honor. [2]
172996 Stooke | 25 May 2006 | list |
199763 Davidgregory | 1 May 2006 | list |
204786 Wehlau | 25 May 2006 | list |
(229280) 2005 BN47 | 16 January 2005 | list |
233472 Moorcroft | 25 May 2006 | list |
236616 Gray | 1 May 2006 | list |
254422 Henrykent | 9 November 2004 | list [A] |
261930 Moorhead | 25 May 2006 | list |
262536 Nowikow | 26 October 2006 | list [A] |
263251 Pandabear | 6 January 2008 | list [A] |
273230 de Bruyn | 1 May 2006 | list |
273262 Cottam | 25 May 2006 | list |
277883 Basu | 1 May 2006 | list |
(281067) 2006 KU130 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(282630) 2005 RL50 | 3 September 2005 | list |
(290156) 2005 QL183 | 27 August 2005 | list |
(290181) 2005 RZ50 | 3 September 2005 | list |
(291824) 2006 KH133 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(292856) 2006 UE341 | 26 October 2006 | list |
(298762) 2004 HT77 | 26 April 2004 | list |
(299518) 2006 CX63 | 2 February 2006 | list |
(299631) 2006 JP68 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(304122) 2006 JY73 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(304557) 2006 UL352 | 26 October 2006 | list |
(305344) 2008 AB122 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(306257) 2011 RF3 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(307681) 2003 SA425 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(308753) 2006 JD79 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(309426) 2007 TX412 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(311604) 2006 KD137 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(312676) 2010 MF36 | 19 January 2007 | list |
(315529) 2008 AN120 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(317843) 2003 SH424 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(317844) 2003 SU426 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(319358) 2006 CE64 | 2 February 2006 | list |
(319455) 2006 KB142 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(322569) 2011 YQ65 | 14 September 2007 | list |
(324208) 2006 AS103 | 7 January 2006 | list |
(324327) 2006 JB72 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(327559) 2006 CS63 | 2 February 2006 | list |
(331824) 2003 SU424 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(335013) 2004 HW76 | 26 April 2004 | list |
(339395) 2005 BA48 | 16 January 2005 | list |
(340538) 2006 JJ73 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(344700) 2003 SV423 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(344918) 2004 RY347 | 12 September 2004 | list |
(345702) 2006 UL357 | 27 October 2006 | list |
(349018) 2006 UD352 | 26 October 2006 | list |
(350205) 2012 QE2 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(351475) 2005 PH27 | 10 August 2005 | list |
(353730) 2011 WN114 | 24 November 2005 | list |
(355145) 2006 UZ343 | 26 October 2006 | list |
(358712) 2008 AO121 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(360106) 2013 CM13 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(362643) 2011 SZ185 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(362683) 2011 UD93 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(363834) 2005 PH25 | 5 August 2005 | list |
(364179) 2006 KU138 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(365879) 2011 UC318 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(371548) 2006 UY349 | 26 October 2006 | list |
(376299) 2011 FC138 | 15 December 2004 | list |
(376303) 2011 FK148 | 14 September 2007 | list |
(376674) 2013 QD29 | 16 January 2005 | list |
(377395) 2004 RW349 | 12 September 2004 | list |
(377959) 2006 JK61 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(387984) 2005 ON29 | 31 July 2005 | list |
(391240) 2006 KP134 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(393652) 2004 PN116 | 12 August 2004 | list |
(394654) 2008 AS120 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(400015) 2006 KH126 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(402361) 2005 VV134 | 1 November 2005 | list |
(405285) 2003 SV424 | 25 September 2003 | list |
(405915) 2006 JP70 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(416605) 2004 PV116 | 12 August 2004 | list |
(422054) 2014 QE366 | 16 January 2005 | list |
important; | ||
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(434357) 2004 RC350 | 12 September 2004 | list |
(434709) 2006 CJ69 | 3 February 2006 | list [A] |
(438334) 2006 KD139 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(441316) 2008 AV125 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(444474) 2006 KL142 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(470002) 2006 KW137 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(476348) 2008 AT123 | 6 January 2008 | list |
(489211) 2006 JH74 | 1 May 2006 | list |
(493446) 2014 WJ361 | 25 May 2006 | list |
(497593) 2006 JU69 | 1 May 2006 | list |
Co-discovery made with: A A. Papadimos |
The Jupiter trojans, commonly called trojan asteroids or simply trojans, are a large group of asteroids that share the planet Jupiter's orbit around the Sun. Relative to Jupiter, each trojan librates around one of Jupiter's stable Lagrange points: either L4, existing 60° ahead of the planet in its orbit, or L5, 60° behind. Jupiter trojans are distributed in two elongated, curved regions around these Lagrangian points with an average semi-major axis of about 5.2 AU.
In ancient times, only the Sun and Moon, a few stars, and the most easily visible planets had names. Over the last few hundred years, the number of identified astronomical objects has risen from hundreds to over a billion, and more are discovered every year. Astronomers need to be able to assign systematic designations to unambiguously identify all of these objects, and at the same time give names to the most interesting objects, and where relevant, features of those objects.
69230 Hermes is a sub-kilometer sized asteroid and binary system on an eccentric orbit, classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group, that passed Earth at approximately twice the distance of the Moon on 30 October 1937. The asteroid was named after Hermes from Greek mythology. It is noted for having been the last remaining named lost asteroid, rediscovered in 2003. The S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 13.9 hours. Its synchronous companion was discovered in 2003. The primary and secondary are similar in size; they measure approximately 810 meters (2,700 ft) and 540 meters (1,800 ft) in diameter, respectively.
2002 AA29 (also written 2002 AA29) is a small near-Earth asteroid that was discovered on January 9, 2002 by the LINEAR (Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research) automatic sky survey. The diameter of the asteroid is only about 20–100 metres (70–300 ft). It revolves about the Sun on an almost circular orbit very similar to that of the Earth. This lies for the most part inside the Earth's orbit, which it crosses near the asteroid's furthest point from the Sun, the aphelion. Because of this orbit, the asteroid is classified as Aten type, named after the asteroid 2062 Aten.
2003 YN107 is a tiny asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Aten group moving in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Earth. Because of that, it is in a co-orbital configuration relative to Earth.
A quasi-satellite is an object in a specific type of co-orbital configuration with a planet where the object stays close to that planet over many orbital periods.
524522 Zoozve (provisional designation 2002 VE68) is a sub-kilometer sized asteroid and temporary quasi-satellite of Venus. Discovered in 2002, it was the first such object to be discovered around a major planet in the Solar System. In a frame of reference rotating with Venus, it appears to travel around it during one Venerean year, but it orbits the Sun, not Venus.
5264 Telephus is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 70 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 17 May 1991, by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, and later named after King Telephus from Greek mythology. The dark and possibly elongated D-type asteroid belongs to the 50 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 9.5 hours.
In astronomy, a trojan is a small celestial body (mostly asteroids) that shares the orbit of a larger body, remaining in a stable orbit approximately 60° ahead of or behind the main body near one of its Lagrangian points L4 and L5. Trojans can share the orbits of planets or of large moons.
In astronomy, a co-orbital configuration is a configuration of two or more astronomical objects orbiting at the same, or very similar, distance from their primary, i.e. they are in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance..
According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term minor planet, but that year's meeting reclassified minor planets and comets into dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies (SSSBs).
2010 TK7 is a sub-kilometer Near-Earth asteroid and the first Earth trojan discovered; it precedes Earth in its orbit around the Sun. Trojan objects are most easily conceived as orbiting at a Lagrangian point, a dynamically stable location (where the combined gravitational force acts through the Sun's and Earth's barycenter) 60 degrees ahead of or behind a massive orbiting body, in a type of 1:1 orbital resonance. In reality, they oscillate around such a point. Such objects had previously been observed in the orbits of Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, and the Saturnian moons Tethys and Dione.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Solar System:
2013 ND15 (also written 2013 ND15) is an asteroid that is a temporary trojan of Venus, the first known Venus trojan.
2014 OL339 (also written 2014 OL339) is an Aten asteroid that is a temporary quasi-satellite of Earth, the fourth known Earth quasi-satellite.
2013 LX28, is an asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group that is a temporary quasi-satellite of the Earth, the third known Earth quasi-satellite.
514107 Kaʻepaokaʻāwela, provisionally designated 2015 BZ509 and nicknamed Bee-Zed, is a small asteroid, approximately 3 km (2 mi) in diameter, in a resonant, co-orbital motion with Jupiter. It is an unusual minor planet in that its orbit is retrograde, which is opposite to the direction of most other bodies in the Solar System. It was discovered on 26 November 2014, by astronomers of the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, United States. Kaʻepaokaʻāwela is the first example of an asteroid in a 1:–1 resonance with any of the planets. This type of resonance had only been studied a few years before the object's discovery. One study suggests that it was an interstellar asteroid captured 4.5 billion years ago into an orbit around the Sun.
594913 ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim (provisional designation 2020 AV2) is a large near-Earth asteroid discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 4 January 2020. It is the first asteroid discovered to have an orbit completely within Venus's orbit, and is thus the first and only known member of the eponymous ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim (informally named Vatira before its discovery) population of Atira-class asteroids. ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim has the smallest known aphelion and third-smallest known semi-major axis among all asteroids. With an absolute magnitude approximately 16.2, the asteroid is expected to be larger than 1 km in diameter.
(614689) 2020 XL5 is a near-Earth asteroid and Earth trojan discovered by the Pan-STARRS 1 survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii on 12 December 2020. It oscillates around the Sun–Earth L4 Lagrangian point (leading 60°), one of the dynamically stable locations where the combined gravitational force acts through the Sun's and Earth's barycenter. Analysis of 2020 XL5's trojan orbit stability suggests it will remain around Earth's L4 point for at least four thousand years until gravitational perturbations from repeated close encounters with Venus destabilize its trojan configuration. With a diameter about 1.2 km (0.75 mi), 2020 XL5 is the second Earth trojan discovered, after 2010 TK7, and is the largest of its kind known.