(5871) Bobbell Inner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 11 February 1989 by E. F. Helin at Palomar.
Named in honor of Robert L. Bell, friend and associate of the discoverer's husband. Bob Bell graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a B.S. in physics and an M.S. in applied mechanics, which he promptly utilized to invent pressure-sensing devices to monitor automobile-engine functions, enabling us to drive efficiently down our highways. More recently he has joined the astronomical community with his own private dome and CCD-equipped telescope. Bob is the quintessential entrepreneur, applying and promoting new ideas to solve problems.Naming citation (19961026/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Bobbell is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Bobbell is 1.80 au from the Sun and 1.68 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5871 |
| Provisional designation | 1989 CE2 |
| Orbit class | Inner Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.38 km (#16,475 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.856 |
| Rotation period | 30.2 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.26 |
| Orbital period | 2.54 years |
| Semi-major axis | 1.86 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.73 – 1.99 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0711 |
| Inclination | 20.4° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.762 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Robert
- (1955) McMath
- (3514) Hooke
- (3875) Staehle
- (4564) Clayton
- (4809) Robertball
- (5109) Robertmiller
- (5308) Hutchison
- (5477) Holmes
- (5585) Parks
- (5636) Jacobson
- (5739) Robertburns
- (5817) Robertfrazer
All asteroids named after someone called Robert