(88270) Alanhoward Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 May 2001 by M. W. Buie at Cerro Tololo.
Alan D. Howard (b. 1939) is an American planetary scientist. He conducted critical and insightful geologic research on bodies across the solar system. Alan investigated Earth, Mars, the icy satellites of the giant planets, and Pluto. He was part of the NASA New Horizons mission team.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #4, 26), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Alanhoward is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alanhoward is 2.65 au from the Sun and 2.14 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 88270 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 KB78 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.92 |
| Orbital period | 4.02 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.53 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.41 – 2.65 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0469 |
| Inclination | 6.14° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.40 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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