(9313) Protea Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 13 February 1988 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.

Named for Proteaceae, the firebush family, with some 75 genera and over 1000 species. They are native to the Southern Hemisphere, where they grow wild. Some species, such as Protea mellifera (honeyflower), extend also to the warm regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The family is best known for its ornamental plants, such as Embothrium coccineum (Chilean firebush), which are cultivated for their edible nuts.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #9, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Protea is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Protea is 2.42 au from the Sun and 3.28 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	9313
Provisional designation	1988 CH3
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	4.75 km (#11,123 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.243
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.92
Orbital period	4.29 years
Semi-major axis	2.64 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.25 – 3.03 au
Eccentricity	0.149
Inclination	13.0°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.27 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 13 February 1988

More named asteroids discovered by E. W. Elst

All 1035

← (9309) Platanus · (9315) Weigel →