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6216 San Jose, provisional designation 1975 SJ, is a background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 30 September 1975, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at the Palomar Observatory. The asteroid was named for the city of San Jose in California.

Orbit and classification

San Jose is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the central asteroid belt at a distance of 2.5–3.0 AU once every 4 years and 7 months (1,669 days; semi-major axis of 2.75 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar in April 1954.

Physical characteristics

San Jose's spectral type is unknown. Based on its albedo (see below), it is likely a stony S-type asteroid. It has an absolute magnitude of 13.0.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, San Jose measures 8.033 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.208.

Rotation period

As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of San Jose has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named for the city of San Jose, California, United States, for its long support of nearby Lick Observatory particularly in efforts to reduce light pollution. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 14 December 1997 (M.P.C. 31024).

References

1. ^ "6216 San Jose (1975 SJ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
2. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6216 San Jose (1975 SJ)" (2018-02-25 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
3. ^ "Asteroid 6216 San Jose – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
4. ^ Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
5. Jim Burns (25 May 1998). "UCSC, Lick Observatory designate asteroid for the city of San Jose". University of California, Santa Cruz. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008.
6. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

External links

• (6216) San Jose imaged at Lick Observatory
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (5001)-(10000) – Minor Planet Center
• 6216 San Jose at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 6216 San Jose at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Minor planet object articles (numbered)
• Background asteroids
• Discoveries by Schelte J. Bus
• Named minor planets
• Astronomical objects discovered in 1975