Definition (2513) Baetslé is a minor planet, specifically an asteroid located in the inner region of the main asteroid belt, a toroidally shaped region of the Solar System situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Overview It was discovered by Belgian astronomer Sylvain Arend at the Uccle Royal Observatory in Uccle, Belgium, on January 26, 1951. Following its discovery, it was assigned the provisional designation 1951 EM. It was later officially designated as (2513) Baetslé by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) upon confirmation of its orbit.
Etymology/Origin The asteroid is named in honor of Paul-Louis Baetslé (1907–1996), a distinguished Belgian astronomer and geodesist. Baetslé was a colleague of the discoverer at the Royal Observatory of Belgium (Uccle), where he served as an astronomer specializing in geodesy and fundamental astronomy. The naming recognized his significant contributions to these scientific fields.
Characteristics (2513) Baetslé is classified as an S-type asteroid, indicative of a stony composition primarily composed of silicates and nickel-iron.
- Orbital Parameters: Its orbit has a semi-major axis of approximately 2.26 Astronomical Units (AU), an eccentricity of about 0.11, and an inclination of roughly 5.6 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane. It completes one orbit around the Sun approximately every 3.4 years (1,245 days).
- Physical Characteristics: Based on its absolute magnitude (H) of approximately 13.0, its estimated diameter is typically between 5 and 10 kilometers, assuming an average albedo for S-type asteroids. Accurate information on its rotation period or detailed shape is not widely published.
Related Topics
- Minor planet
- Asteroid
- Main asteroid belt
- Sylvain Arend
- Paul-Louis Baetslé
- Royal Observatory of Belgium (Uccle)