(6944) Elaineowens Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 June 1979 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J. at Siding Spring.
Elaine Owens (b. 1947) was administrative coordinator at the Planetary Science Institute for over 25 years. Her ability to deal with a challenging group of scientists in the ever-increasing demands of a complex world while maintaining a pleasant and efficient persona made her essential to the organization.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2017-12-03), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Elaineowens is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Elaineowens is 2.59 au from the Sun and 2.42 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6944 |
| Provisional designation | 1979 MR3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.37 km (#14,304 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.357 |
| Rotation period | 2.91 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.45 |
| Orbital period | 3.52 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.32 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.00 – 2.64 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.138 |
| Inclination | 7.66° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.979 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Elaine
- (13818) Ullery
- (19808) Elainemccall
- (20338) Elainepappas
- (27263) Elainezhou
- (30406) Middleman
- (31846) Elainegillum
All asteroids named after someone called Elaine
Also discovered on 25 June 1979
- (2343) Siding Spring
- (2392) Jonathan Murray
- (2441) Hibbs
- (2618) Coonabarabran
- (2619) Skalnate Pleso
- (2628) Kopal
- (2682) Soromundi
- (2704) Julian Loewe
- (3129) Bonestell
- (3205) Boksenberg
- (3756) Ruscannon
- (3817) Lencarter