(8138) Craigbowers Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 20 March 1980 by Perth Observatory at Bickley.

Craig Bowers (b. 1958) was a meridian-telescope observer for the Perth 75 catalogue, and also monitored variable stars. He was heavily involved in the continuous Lowell/Perth telescope CCD observations of 1P/Halley, including the discovery of the jets of CN gas leading to the defining of the rotation period of the nucleus. His PhD thesis detailed the scientific history of Perth Observatory from 1960 to 1993.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 1, #3, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Craigbowers is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Craigbowers is 2.34 au from the Sun and 1.44 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	8138
Provisional designation	1980 FF12
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	3.30 km (#14,474 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.393
Rotation period	3.21 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)	14.33
Orbital period	3.20 years
Semi-major axis	2.17 au
Perihelion – aphelion	1.98 – 2.36 au
Eccentricity	0.0880
Inclination	2.87°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	0.970 au

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

Also named after someone called Craig

All asteroids named after someone called Craig

Also discovered on 20 March 1980

More named asteroids discovered by Perth Observatory

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