(18839) Whiteley Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 August 1999 by J. Broughton at Reedy Creek.
Abstract artist Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) was Australia's leading painter of his generation and winner of all the major Australian art prizes many times over. As is evident in his self portraits, the Harpo-like Whiteley would not have looked out of place alongside the Marx Brothers.Naming citation (20010705/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Whiteley is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Whiteley is 2.98 au from the Sun and 2.22 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 18839 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 PG |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.53 km (#7,088 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.179 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.45 |
| Orbital period | 5.15 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.98 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.75 – 3.22 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0787 |
| Inclination | 10.6° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.75 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Brett
- (7638) Gladman
- (9026) Denevi
- (20839) Bretharrison
- (26613) Brettwhite
- (27426) Brettlawrie
- (28130) Troemper
- (134088) Brettperkins
All asteroids named after someone called Brett