Discovered by S. J. Bus MPC designation 4659 Roddenberry Observation arc 37.35 yr (13,641 days) Aphelion 2.9 m Discoverer Schelte J. Bus | Discovery date 2 March 1981 Minor planet category main-belt · (inner) Discovered 2 March 1981 Orbits Sun Asteroid group Asteroid belt | |
Alternative names 1981 EP20 · 1979 SY71979 TO1 | ||
4659 Roddenberry, provisional designation 1981 EP20, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, about 3.6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 2 March 1981, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at the Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia.
The S-type asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.8–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 8 months (1,333 days). Its orbit is tilted by 2 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic and shows an eccentricity of 0.22. It has a rotation period of 12 hours and an albedo of 0.19, according to the NEOWISE mission of the U.S. Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.
The minor planet was named in memory of famous American screenwriter, producer and futurist, Gene Roddenberry (1921–1991), known for the Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation television series, and for the Star Trek film franchise.