Discovered by T. Smirnova MPC designation 2002 Euler Observation arc 73.91 yr (26994 days) Orbits Sun Named after Leonhard Euler | Discovery date 29 August 1973 Minor planet category main-belt Discovered 29 August 1973 Discoverer Tamara Smirnova Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Alternative names 1973 QQ1 · 1938 DW
1942 GJ · 1953 EB
1973 SJ2 Discovery site Crimean Astrophysical Observatory Similar Solar System, Asteroid belt, Sun, 216 Kleopatra, Jupiter trojan | ||
2002 Euler, provisional designation 1973 QQ1, is an asteroid from the asteroid belt, about 17 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on August 29, 1973, by Russian astronomer Tamara Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyj. The asteroid's low-eccentric, only slightly inclined orbit has a period of 3 years and 9 month with a semi-major axis of 2.4 AU. It rotates around its axis every 6 hours. Its geometric albedo of 0.084 has been measured by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).
It was named after Swiss mathematician, physicist and astronomer Leonhard Euler (1707–1783). His contributions to astronomy included two theories for the motion of the Moon. Euler spent much of his time in St. Petersburg and was associated with the Russian Academy of Sciences.