Discovered by A. G. Wilson MPC designation 1915 Quetzálcoatl Minor planet category NEO · Amor · Alinda Inclination 20.402° Discoverer Albert George Wilson Asteroid group Amor asteroid | Discovery date 9 March 1953 Alternative names 1953 EA Discovered 9 March 1953 Orbits Sun Discovery site Palomar Observatory | |
Named after Quetzalcoatl
(Mesoamerican deity) Similar Albert George Wilson discoveries, Other celestial objects | ||
1915 Quetzálcoatl, provisional designation 1953 EA, is a very eccentric, stony asteroid classified as near-Earth object, about half a kilometer in diameter. It was discovered on 9 March 1953, by American astronomer Albert George Wilson at Palomar Observatory, California.
The asteroid is an Amor asteroid – a subgroup of near-Earth asteroids that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it – and a member of the Alinda family of highly eccentric asteroids. Its Earth Minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) is 0.11 AU and on February 24, 2062, it will make a close approach and pass by Earth at a distance of 0.1339 AU (20,030,000 km; 12,450,000 mi).
Classified as a SMU-subtype in the Tholen taxonomy, the S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.1–4.0 AU once every 4 years and 1 month (1,482 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.57 and an inclination of 20° with respect to the ecliptic.
It has a rotation period of 4.9 hours and an albedo of 0.21–0.31. In 1981, this object was observed with radar from the Arecibo Observatory at a distance of 0.09 AU. The measured radar cross-section was 0.02 km2.
It is named after the "feathered serpent" Quetzalcoatl, the Mesoamerican deity of wisdom and culture who brought learning to the Toltec people. Naming citation was published before November 1977 (M.P.C. 3827).