(15970) Robertbrownlee Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 22 March 1998 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Robert Brownlee (b. 1924) is an American astronomer who helped young astronomers at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to pursue their own research interests. He played a key role in clean-up work at Enewetak Atoll before the original residents returned in 1980. Later, he organized the Lab's Geothermal Energy Program.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2015-03-05), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Robertbrownlee is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Robertbrownlee is 2.53 au from the Sun and 3.53 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15970 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 FA9 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.86 |
| Orbital period | 3.17 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.16 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.76 – 2.55 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.183 |
| Inclination | 5.06° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.766 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Robert
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