14974 Počátky is a numbered minor planet (asteroid) located in the main asteroid belt. The object was assigned the permanent designation 14974 after its orbit was sufficiently well determined, and it subsequently received the name Počátky in honor of the Czech town of Počátky.
Discovery
The asteroid was discovered on 19 September 1998 by astronomers at the Kleť Observatory in the Czech Republic. The discovery was recorded under the provisional designation 1998 SZ₁₁₅.
Orbit and classification
- Orbital group: Main‑belt asteroid, residing in the central region of the asteroid belt.
- Semimajor axis: Approximately 2.7 AU (exact value recorded in the JPL Small‑Body Database).
- Orbital period: Roughly 4.5 years.
- Eccentricity: Low to moderate, typical of central‑belt asteroids.
- Inclination: A few degrees relative to the ecliptic plane.
These parameters place 14974 Počátky on a stable, nearly circular orbit that does not intersect the paths of major planets.
Physical characteristics
The asteroid’s absolute magnitude (H) is listed as 14.2, indicating a diameter in the range of 5–10 kilometres, depending on its albedo. No dedicated spectroscopic or rotational studies have been published, so its composition and rotation period remain uncharacterized.
Naming citation
The name Počátky was approved by the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2002. Počátky is a historic town in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, noted for its cultural heritage and location at the confluence of the Sázava and Blanice rivers. The naming reflects the tradition of honoring locations of significance to the discoverers or their institutions.
References and data sources
- Minor Planet Center (MPC) database entry for 14974 Počátky.
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small‑Body Database.
- IAU Circular and Minor Planet Circulars announcing the naming citation.
Note: Detailed orbital elements, spectral class, and rotation period are accessible through the JPL Small‑Body Database and the Minor Planet Center, where they are regularly updated based on ongoing observations.
