(26715) South Dakota Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 April 2001 by R. Dyvig at Badlands.
South Dakota, in which the Badlands Observatory is situated, became the fortieth U.S. state when the Dakota Territory was split in 1889. Possessing a rich western heritage, the state is also well known for agriculture, tourism, sunshine and dark skies. Pierre, its capital, is on the banks of the Missouri River.Naming citation (20020328/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where South Dakota is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: South Dakota is 2.45 au from the Sun and 2.31 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 26715 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 HJ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.24 |
| Orbital period | 4.47 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.71 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.42 – 3.00 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.106 |
| Inclination | 4.19° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.44 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.