(8596) Alchata Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Named for Pterocles alchata, or pin-tailed sandgrouse.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #8, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Alchata is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsAlchataAlchata

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alchata is 2.31 au from the Sun and 1.35 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number8596
Provisional designation1298 T-2
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Rotation period38.1 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)14.88
Orbital period3.31 years
Semi-major axis2.22 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.07 – 2.38 au
Eccentricity0.0706
Inclination5.41°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.08 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 29 September 1973

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.