(10773) Jamespaton Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 January 1991 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
James Paton (1903-1973) was a Scottish meteorologist. He was involved in auroral studies during the IGY and later at the University of Edinburgh Balfour Stewart Auroral Laboratory, until his death. He was also a pioneer in the study of noctilucent clouds.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2014-07-12), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Jamespaton is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Jamespaton is 3.27 au from the Sun and 4.14 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 10773 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 AK2 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 10.2 km (#4,962 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0680 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.77 |
| Orbital period | 5.73 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.20 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.96 – 3.45 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0769 |
| Inclination | 21.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.97 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called James
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- (5594) Jimmiller
- (5625) Jamesferguson
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- (6758) Jesseowens
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All asteroids named after someone called James