Discovered by L. Ball Minor planet category main-belt Absolute magnitude 14.7 Discoverer Loren C. Ball Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 3 September 2000 Discovered 3 September 2000 Orbits Sun Discovery site Emerald Lane Observatory | |
Alternative names 2000 RZ8 · 1996 YW31998 HF58 People also search for Sun, 51599 Brittany, (73073) 2002 GA1, 61400 Voxandreae, (73196) 2002 JZ10, (153757) 2001 UN210 | ||
34351 Decatur, provisional designation 2000 RZ8, is an asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 September 2000, by American amateur astronomer Loren C. Ball at his U.S. Emerald Lane Observatory in Decatur, Alabama.
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–3.2 AU once every 5 years and 1 month (1,846 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.07 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. The first precovery was taken at Steward Observatory (Kitt Peak-Spacewatch) in 1992, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 8 years prior to its discovery. As of 2016, Decatur's composition and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown. Based on an absolute magnitude of 14.7, its diameter is calculated to measure between 3 and 7 kilometers, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25.
The minor planet is named after the city of Decatur in the U.S. state of Alabama, location of the discovering observatory and home of the discoverer. Decatur is located near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Naming citation was published on 27 April 2002 (M.P.C. 45345).