(471301) Robertajmolson Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 30 January 2006 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.

Art historian Roberta J. M. Olson (b. 1947) identified Halley's Comet as the model for Giotto's Star of Bethlehem in his Arena Chapel fresco in Padua. This inspired ESA to name the mission to Halley's Comet “Giotto”. Her books include Fire and Ice: A History of Comets in Art and, as a co-author, Cosmos: The Art and Science of the Universe.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #4, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Robertajmolson is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsRobertajmolsonRobertajmolson

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Robertajmolson is 3.08 au from the Sun and 2.15 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number471301
Provisional designation2011 HS20
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Absolute magnitude (H)17.59
Orbital period4.51 years
Semi-major axis2.73 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.26 – 3.20 au
Eccentricity0.171
Inclination8.69°
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 named after someone called Roberta

Also discovered on 30 January 2006

More named asteroids discovered by Spacewatch