(5274) Degewij Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 14 September 1985 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.

Named in honor of Johan Degewij (b. 1944), of Utrecht Polytechnic Institute, for his contributions to small-bodies research. Degewij was among the first to use spectroscopy to search for cometary activity on near-Earth asteroids and to detect color and polarization variations with rotation. His discovery of rotational albedo variegation on Vesta was the crucial observation that led to the recognition of its true rotation period as 5.34 hours, rather than 10.68 hours, the value accepted at the time. Degewij has also made significant contributions to the photometric study of comets, distant asteroids and the small satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. Name suggested and citation provided by E. F. Tedesco.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #28, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Degewij is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Degewij is 2.73 au from the Sun and 2.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	5274
Provisional designation	1985 RS
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	15.9 km (#2,922 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.0700
Rotation period	7.58 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.83
Orbital period	4.37 years
Semi-major axis	2.67 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.30 – 3.05 au
Eccentricity	0.139
Inclination	11.6°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.31 au

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

Also named after someone called Johan

All asteroids named after someone called Johan

Also discovered on 14 September 1985

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