(8648) Salix Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 September 1989 by E. W. Elst at Haute Provence.
Named for Salix, a genus belonging to the family Salicaceae. Salix albaSalix caprea (goat or pussy willow) is a fast-growing small tree with striking catkins in early spring.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #9, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Salix is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Salix is 2.31 au from the Sun and 2.12 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8648 |
| Provisional designation | 1989 RJ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.22 km (#12,212 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.299 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.15 |
| Orbital period | 3.40 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.26 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.72 – 2.81 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.241 |
| Inclination | 3.69° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.730 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 2 September 1989
More named asteroids discovered by E. W. Elst
- (3631) Sigyn
- (3784) Chopin
- (3870) Mayre
- (3903) Kliment Ohridski
- (3910) Liszt
- (3912) Troja
- (3918) Brel
- (4038) Kristina
- (4226) Damiaan
- (4342) Freud
- (4344) Buxtehude
- (4345) Rachmaninoff
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