(85015) Gaskell Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 19 January 2004 by CSS at Catalina.
Robert Gaskell (b. 1945) is a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. He is known for the development of stereophotoclinometry software tools, which are used to determine the shape and topography of solar system objects and for spacecraft navigation using landmark tracking.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2013-11-17), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gaskell is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gaskell is 2.29 au from the Sun and 3.27 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 85015 |
| Provisional designation | 2004 BE38 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.39 |
| Orbital period | 3.68 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.39 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.06 – 2.71 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.137 |
| Inclination | 1.83° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.07 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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