51825 Davidbrown (provisional designation 2001 OQ33) is an Eoan asteroid in the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 July 2001, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named for American astronaut David Brown, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.[5]
Orbit and classification
Davidbrown is a member the Eos family (606),[3] the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 K-type asteroids.[6]: 23 It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.8–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 1 month (1,867 days; semi-major axis of 2.97 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The body's observation arc begins with its first observation as 1994 CZ14 at ESO's La Silla Observatory in February 1994, more than 7 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[5]
Physical characteristics
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Davidbrown measures 4.913 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.184.[4]
Rotation period
As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Davidbrown has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remain unknown.[1][7]
Naming
This minor planet was named after American astronaut and mission specialist David McDowell Brown, who was killed in the Columbia space shuttle reentry disaster on 1 February 2003.[2] The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (M.P.C. 49283).[8] The following asteroids were also named in memory of the other six members of STS-107: 51823 Rickhusband, 51824 Mikeanderson, 51826 Kalpanachawla, 51827 Laurelclark, 51828 Ilanramon and 51829 Williemccool.
