(61401) Schiff Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 August 2000 by S. Sposetti at Gnosca.
In 1960 Leonard Schiff (1915-1971) proposed the use of orbiting gyroscopes to check some of the effects of the theory of general relativity. His ideas led to the Gravity Probe B experiment.Naming citation (20060809/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Schiff is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Schiff is 2.59 au from the Sun and 2.77 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 61401 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 QQ6 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.35 |
| Orbital period | 4.15 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.58 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.31 – 2.85 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.105 |
| Inclination | 2.24° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.31 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Leonard
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- (195405) Lentyler
All asteroids named after someone called Leonard
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