Discovered by C. Jackson MPC designation 2865 Laurel Observation arc 80.88 yr (29,541 days) Orbits Sun | Discovery date 31 July 1935 Minor planet category main-belt · (middle) Discovered 31 July 1935 Discovery site Union Observatory | |
Alternative names 1935 OK · 1939 PA1947 NF · 1951 ML1972 QH Named after Laurel and Hardy (film comedian) Similar Sun, 170 Maria, 714 Ulula, 695 Bella | ||
2865 Laurel, provisional designation 1935 OK, is a stony asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 15 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by English-born South African astronomer Cyril Jackson at Johannesburg Observatory on 31 July 1935.
The S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.4–2.7 AU once every 4 years and 1 month (1,497 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 14° with respect to the ecliptic. No precoveries were taken and the asteroid's observation arc begins with its discovery observation in 1935.
A rotational light-curve for this asteroid was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer Pierre Antonini in September 2005. It gave a longer than average rotation period of 7001215000000000000♠21.5±0.3 hours with a brightness variation of 0.15 in magnitude (U=2).
According to the space-based surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, the asteroid measures between 14.7 and 25.0 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.09 and 0.22. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link agrees with IRAS and derives an albedo of 0.24 and a diameter 14.8 kilometers.
The minor planet was named after English-born comedian Stan Laurel (1890–1965). Together with Oliver Hardy (1892–1957), who was honored with the main-belt asteroid 2866 Hardy, they formed the first great comedy duo in Classical Hollywood cinema. Naming citation was published on 1 September 1993 (M.P.C. 22496), based on a suggestion by Gareth V. Williams and others.