(15614) Pillinger Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 April 2000 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Colin T. Pillinger (b. 1943), a planetary geochemist, made significant discoveries in the light-element geochemistry of meteorites, diamonds, lunar samples and terrestrial samples. He is the originator and principal investigator of the Beagle 2 Mars lander. The name was suggested by E. K. Gibson.Naming citation (20040928/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pillinger is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pillinger is 2.85 au from the Sun and 3.46 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15614 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 GA143 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.97 km (#7,691 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.191 |
| Rotation period | 39.6 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.64 |
| Orbital period | 5.17 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.99 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.82 – 3.16 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0565 |
| Inclination | 10.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.81 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Colin
- (5833) Peterson
- (13213) Maclaurin
- (15347) Colinstuart
- (17051) Oflynn
- (43500) Chandler
- (158589) Snodgrass
- (391496) Colineldridge
All asteroids named after someone called Colin
Also discovered on 7 April 2000
- (15599) Richardlarson
- (15603) Kimyoonji
- (15604) Fruits
- (15608) Owens
- (15609) Kosmaczewski
- (15611) Leejoonyoung
- (15612) Parkmincheol
- (16238) Chappe
- (16239) Dower
- (16241) Dvorsky
- (16242) Licato
- (16245) Katielu