(316741) Janefletcher Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 November 1998 by A. Fitzsimmons at La Palma.
Jane Fletcher (b. 1967) was the producer of the BBC television programme The Sky at Night from 2002 to 2013. Her dedication and enthusiasm has inspired the current and future generations of scientists, and has been appreciated throughout UK astronomy.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 11), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Janefletcher is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Janefletcher is 2.91 au from the Sun and 2.01 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 316741 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 WS44 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.12 |
| Orbital period | 5.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.62 – 3.71 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.172 |
| Inclination | 25.9° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.64 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Jane
- (7175) Janegoodall
- (10043) Janegann
- (15099) Janestrohm
- (19630) Janebell
- (22338) Janemojo
- (24277) Schoch
- (25988) Janesuh
- (27314) Janemcdonald
- (28318) Janecox
- (28465) Janesmyth
- (39415) Janeausten
- (65191) Janespencer
All asteroids named after someone called Jane