(48047) Houghten Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 22 February 2001 by Tenagra II at Nogales.
Christopher Houghten (b. 1963), of Rutland, Vermont, developed a non-computer-based system to allow manually operated telescopes to be GOTO telescopes, thereby helping astronomers gather large amounts of data. His solution to the problem has been developed into a PC-based state-of-the-art control system.Naming citation (20090806/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Houghten is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Houghten is 2.33 au from the Sun and 2.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 48047 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 DL86 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.02 |
| Orbital period | 3.47 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.29 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.17 – 2.42 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0542 |
| Inclination | 6.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.16 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christopher
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All asteroids named after someone called Christopher
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← (47931) Stifler · (48070) Zizza →