(18024) Dobson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 20 May 1999 by J. M. Roe at Oaxaca.
John Dobson (b. 1915) is one of the most important popularizers of astronomy of the twentieth century. His telescope design has spread around the world and enabled amateur astronomers to use larger apertures than before. He demonstrates a passion for sharing his knowledge of the universe with the public at large.Naming citation (20011101/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Dobson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Dobson is 3.09 au from the Sun and 3.96 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 18024 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 KK4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.24 km (#10,155 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.213 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.03 |
| Orbital period | 5.70 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.19 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.00 – 3.38 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0609 |
| Inclination | 9.54° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.00 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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