(8586) Epops Outer Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Named for Upupa epops, or hoopoe.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #8, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Epops is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsEpopsEpops

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Epops is 3.33 au from the Sun and 4.17 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number8586
Provisional designation2563 P-L
Orbit classOuter Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter14.6 km (#3,223 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0610
Absolute magnitude (H)12.97
Orbital period5.79 years
Semi-major axis3.22 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.81 – 3.63 au
Eccentricity0.127
Inclination1.77°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.80 au

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

Also discovered on 24 September 1960

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.