(13942) Shiratakihime Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 November 1989 by Endate, K., Watanabe, K. at Kitami.
Some 1300 years ago, according to local legend, Princess Shirataki came to Kiryu from the imperial city of Kyoto. She brought with her the skills of sericulture and weaving. Textile weaving has become the principal industry of Kiryu.Naming citation (20110218/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Shiratakihime is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Shiratakihime is 2.92 au from the Sun and 3.91 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 13942 |
| Provisional designation | 1989 VS2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.97 km (#7,698 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.277 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.12 |
| Orbital period | 4.33 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.66 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.15 – 3.16 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.189 |
| Inclination | 14.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.20 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.