(6518) Vernon Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 23 March 1990 by E. F. Helin at Palomar.

Named in honor of Robert and Esther Vernon, longtime friends and, for more than 35 years, neighbors of the discoverer and her parents, Fred and Kay Francis. Their wise counsel, advice and solace over the years have been a source of comfort and renewed strength. Bob, now “retired”, travels the world from Slovakia to Mongolia, sharing his wealth of experience and expertise with emerging democracies.Naming citation (19980211/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Vernon is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsVernonVernon

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vernon is 2.61 au from the Sun and 2.02 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number6518
Provisional designation1990 FR
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter12.7 km (#3,817 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0540
Rotation period4.88 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)13.4
Orbital period4.16 years
Semi-major axis2.59 au
Perihelion – aphelion1.79 – 3.38 au
Eccentricity0.308
Inclination13.8°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)0.839 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Esther

Also discovered on 23 March 1990

More named asteroids discovered by E. F. Helin