9617 Grahamchapman
Encyclopedia
9617 Grahamchapman is an asteroid
in the main asteroid belt
between Mars
and Jupiter
. It was discovered on 17 March 1993, at the European Southern Observatory
during the Uppsala-ESO Survey of Asteroids and Comets (UESAC)
. It is named after the British comedian Graham Chapman
, who died in 1989. It is the first in a series of six asteroids carrying the names of members of the Monty Python
comedy troupe; the others are 9618 Johncleese
, 9619 Terrygilliam
, 9620 Ericidle
, 9621 Michaelpalin
and 9622 Terryjones
.
In early 2006, observations by the Ondřejov
NEO Photometric
Program determined that Grahamchapman is orbited by a moon
. The moon is about a quarter the size of Grahamchapman, and orbits it about once every 19 hours. The study also showed that Grahamchapman itself has a rotation period
of about 2.3 hours, and probably has a nearly spheroidal shape.
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
in the main asteroid belt
Asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...
between Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
. It was discovered on 17 March 1993, at the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
during the Uppsala-ESO Survey of Asteroids and Comets (UESAC)
UESAC
The Uppsala-ESO Survey of Asteroids and Comets took place in 1992–1993. A large number of asteroids were investigated. Over 15,000 positions were detected, and orbits were calculated for 2500. As of 2006, a total of 1002 new asteroids were discovered and numbered in the process, ranging from...
. It is named after the British comedian Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, who died in 1989. It is the first in a series of six asteroids carrying the names of members of the Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
comedy troupe; the others are 9618 Johncleese
9618 Johncleese
9618 Johncleese is an asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.-Name:Johncleese is named after British comedian John Cleese. The asteroid is one of many main belt List of minor planets named after people...
, 9619 Terrygilliam
9619 Terrygilliam
9619 Terrygilliam is an asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.-Name:Terrygilliam is named after American-born filmmaker and animator Terry Gilliam. The asteroid is one of many main belt asteroids named after famous personalities...
, 9620 Ericidle
9620 Ericidle
9620 Ericidle is an asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.-Name:Ericidle is named after British comedian Eric Idle. The asteroid is one of many main belt asteroids named after famous personalities...
, 9621 Michaelpalin
9621 Michaelpalin
9621 Michaelpalin is an asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.-Name:Michaelpalin is named after British comedian Michael Palin. The asteroid is one of many main belt asteroids named after famous personalities...
and 9622 Terryjones
9622 Terryjones
9622 Terryjones is an asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.-Name:Terryjones is named after British comedian Terry Jones. The asteroid is one of many main belt asteroids named after famous personalities...
.
In early 2006, observations by the Ondřejov
Ondrejov Observatory
The Ondřejov Observatory is the principal observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. It is located near the village of Ondřejov, 35 km southeast of Prague....
NEO Photometric
Photometry (astronomy)
Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
Program determined that Grahamchapman is orbited by a moon
Asteroid moon
A minor planet moon is an astronomical body that orbits a minor planet as its natural satellite. It is thought that many asteroids and Kuiper belt objects may possess moons, in some cases quite substantial in size...
. The moon is about a quarter the size of Grahamchapman, and orbits it about once every 19 hours. The study also showed that Grahamchapman itself has a rotation period
Rotation period
The rotation period of an astronomical object is the time it takes to complete one revolution around its axis of rotation relative to the background stars...
of about 2.3 hours, and probably has a nearly spheroidal shape.