+ View the NASA Portal + Center for Near-Earth Object Studies JPL Small-Body Database Browser Search: [ help ]   16674 Birkeland (1994 BK3) Classification: Main-belt Asteroid          SPK-ID: 2016674 [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Mission Design | Physical Parameters | Discovery Circumstances | Close-Approach Data ] [ show orbit diagram ] Orbital Elements at Epoch 2459200.5 (2020-Dec-17.0) TDB Reference: JPL 30 (heliocentric ecliptic J2000)  Element Value Uncertainty (1-sigma)   Units  e .08047188213712665 5.0105e-08   a 2.614318193357504 1.4417e-08 au q 2.403939087832693 1.3635e-07 au i 8.461869457159972 4.1992e-06 deg node 277.0557984395579 3.5954e-05 deg peri 46.14987637280385 4.4962e-05 deg M 283.9728539393115 2.8378e-05 deg tp 2459526.563572073481 (2021-Nov-08.06357207) 0.00012208 TDB period 1543.960177760091 4.23 1.2771e-05 3.497e-08 d yr n .2331666355036903 1.9287e-09 deg/d Q 2.824697298882314 1.5577e-08 au   Orbit Determination Parameters    # obs. used (total)      1541      data-arc span      25374 days (69.47 yr)      first obs. used      1950-12-09      last obs. used      2020-05-29      planetary ephem.      DE441      SB-pert. ephem.      SB441-N16      condition code      0      norm. resid. RMS      .50094      source      ORB      producer      Otto Matic      solution date      2021-Apr-13 01:38:23   Additional Information  Earth MOID = 1.39729 au   Jupiter MOID = 2.40684 au   T_jup = 3.388  [ show covariance matrix ] [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Mission Design | Physical Parameters | Discovery Circumstances | Close-Approach Data ] Physical Parameter Table Parameter Symbol Value Units Sigma Reference Notes absolute magnitude H 14.14   n/a E2021B10   16674 Birkeland           Discovered 1994 Jan. 16 by E. W. Elst and C. Pollas at Caussols. Kristian Olaf Birkeland (1867-1917) was a Norwegian scientist who elucidated the nature of the aurora borealis. He constructed an electromagnetic device enabling him to simulate the light of the polar aurora by directing a beam of cathode rays (electrons) on a sphere in a vacuum tank. NOTE: some special characters may not display properly (any characters within {} are an attempt to place the proper accent above a character) Reference: 20100726/MPCPages.arc Last Updated: 2010-07-28 [ show close-approach data ] [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Mission Design | Physical Parameters | Discovery Circumstances | Close-Approach Data ] 2021-Apr-18 17:28 UT (server date/time)   Site Manager:   Ryan S. Park Webmaster:   Alan B. Chamberlin