(8644) Betulapendula Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 September 1988 by E. W. Elst at Haute Provence.
Named for Betula pendula (silver birch), a species in the genus Betula belonging to the family Betulaceae. It is a beautiful tree with an almost white bark. It grows fast and reaches a height of about 25 m and an age of 60-80 years.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #9, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Betulapendula is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Betulapendula is 2.78 au from the Sun and 3.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8644 |
| Provisional designation | 1988 SD |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.39 km (#11,858 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.303 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.73 |
| Orbital period | 3.66 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.38 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.97 – 2.78 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.171 |
| Inclination | 5.31° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.962 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 16 September 1988
- (3910) Liszt
- (3912) Troja
- (4259) McCoy
- (4794) Bogard
- (6188) Robertpepin
- (8483) Kinwalaniihsia
- (8643) Quercus
- (9025) Polanskey
- (9026) Denevi
- (10063) Erinleeryan
- (10298) Jiangchuanhuang
- (10741) Valeriocarruba
More named asteroids discovered by E. W. Elst
- (3631) Sigyn
- (3784) Chopin
- (3870) Mayre
- (3903) Kliment Ohridski
- (3910) Liszt
- (3912) Troja
- (3918) Brel
- (4038) Kristina
- (4226) Damiaan
- (4342) Freud
- (4344) Buxtehude
- (4345) Rachmaninoff
← (8643) Quercus · (8647) Populus →