(6233) Kimura Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 February 1986 by Inoda, S., Urata, T. at Karasuyama.
Named in memory of Hisashi Kimura (1870–1943), the first director of the International Latitude Observatory of Mizusawa. Serving in this capacity from 1899 to 1941, he was also director of the International Latitude Service from 1922 to 1934. In 1902 Kimura discovered the Z term of polar motion, the first astronomical clue for inferring physical states and processes in the earth's deep interior, in particular at the core-mantle boundary. Name proposed by the second discoverer, following a suggestion by K. Hurukawa and K. Yokoyama, and in commemoration of the Mizusawa Observatory's centennial. Citation prepared by K. Yokoyama.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #14, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Kimura is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kimura is 2.86 au from the Sun and 1.92 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6233 |
| Provisional designation | 1986 CG |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.89 km (#5,165 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0660 |
| Rotation period | 7.10 hours |
| Spectral type | Ch |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.01 |
| Orbital period | 4.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.80 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.30 – 3.29 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.176 |
| Inclination | 6.78° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.32 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.