(12863) Whitfield Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 22 May 1998 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Meghan Elizabeth Whitfield (b. 1985) is a finalist in the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for her engineering project. She attends the Glen Rose High School, Benton, Arkansas, U.S.A.Naming citation (20020724/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Whitfield is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Whitfield is 2.37 au from the Sun and 1.39 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12863 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 KE48 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.39 km (#14,246 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.267 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.79 |
| Orbital period | 3.42 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.05 – 2.49 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0966 |
| Inclination | 2.93° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.04 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Meghan
All asteroids named after someone called Meghan
Also discovered on 22 May 1998
- (9466) Shishir
- (11187) Richoliver
- (11730) Yanhua
- (11735) Isabellecohen
- (12104) Chesley
- (12106) Menghuan
- (12107) Reneebarcia
- (12108) Jamesaustin
- (12529) Reighard
- (12530) Richardson
- (12860) Turney
- (12861) Wacker