(5691) Fredwatson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 March 1992 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
Fred Garnett Watson (b. 1944) specializes in astronomical instrumentation and helped pioneer the use of fiber-optic spectroscopy. He is currently astronomer-in-charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory. Through his frequent radio appearances and magazine columns, he has become a well-known public figure.Naming citation (20040504/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Fredwatson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Fredwatson is 2.59 au from the Sun and 1.84 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5691 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 FD |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.52 km (#9,691 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.421 |
| Rotation period | 106 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.4 |
| Orbital period | 3.56 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.33 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.06 – 2.61 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.118 |
| Inclination | 26.2° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.09 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Fred
- (5253) Fredclifford
- (5927) Krogh
- (7065) Fredschaaf
- (8077) Hoyle
- (12113) Hollows
- (13859) Fredtreasure
- (14120) Espenak
- (22846) Fredwhitaker
- (26858) Misterrogers
All asteroids named after someone called Fred
Also discovered on 26 March 1992
More named asteroids discovered by R. H. McNaught
- (3904) Honda
- (4093) Bennett
- (4128) UKSTU
- (4129) Richelen
- (4220) Flood
- (4456) Mawson
- (4499) Davidallen
- (4504) Jenkinson
- (4638) Estens
- (4667) Robbiesh
- (4678) Ninian
- (4679) Sybil
← (5689) Rhon · (5692) Shirao →