(78431) Kemble Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 August 2002 by A. Lowe at Palomar.
Lucian J. Kemble (1922-1999) was a Franciscan Father ordained in 1953. Multi-talented, he was an avid amateur astronomer with a particular interest in deep-sky observing. In 1980, he drew attention to a chain of stars in the constellation of Camelopardalis that is now known as Kemble's Cascade.Naming citation (20050919/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Kemble is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kemble is 2.78 au from the Sun and 2.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 78431 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 QJ50 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.76 |
| Orbital period | 3.81 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.44 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.07 – 2.82 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.153 |
| Inclination | 3.00° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.06 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Lucian
All asteroids named after someone called Lucian