(6440) Ransome Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 September 1988 by A. Mrkos at Klet.
Named in memory of Arthur Ransome (1884-1967), one of the best loved of all children's writers. His novels depict the adventures of boys and girls, Swallows and Amazons, who explore the lakes and mountains of England. They are enduringly popular all over the world. Name suggested by J. Ticha.Naming citation (19990402/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Ransome is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Ransome is 2.15 au from the Sun and 2.27 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6440 |
| Provisional designation | 1988 RA2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.56 km (#11,513 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.257 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.07 |
| Orbital period | 3.84 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.45 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.99 – 2.92 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.189 |
| Inclination | 2.51° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.984 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Arthur
- (3769) Arthurmiller
- (4571) Grumiaux
- (4923) Clarke
- (7016) Conandoyle
- (9721) Doty
- (9770) Discovery
- (10448) Schawlow
- (11516) Arthurpage
- (11760) Auwers
- (11767) Milne
- (13927) Grundy
- (16755) Cayley
All asteroids named after someone called Arthur
Also discovered on 8 September 1988
- (5004) Bruch
- (5119) Imbrius
- (5326) Vittoriosacco
- (5509) Rennsteig
- (6002) Eetion
- (6442) Salzburg
- (6824) Mallory
- (7280) Bergengruen
- (10740) Fallersleben
- (11485) Zinzendorf
- (11854) Ludwigrichter
- (11855) Preller