228 Agathe is a stony main belt asteroid, about 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on 19 August 1882 at Vienna Observatory, Austria. Photometric observations during 2003 showed a rotation period of 6.48 ± 0.01 hours with a brightness variation of 0.27 ± 0.03 in magnitude. An earlier study yielded results that are consistent with these estimates. Agathe is the lowest numbered asteroid to have an Earth-MOID as low as . On 23 August 2029 the asteroid will be from Earth.
+228 Agathe Earth approach on 23 August 2029 Date and time ofclosest approach Earth distance(AU) Sun distance(AU) Velocityrelative to Earth(km/s) Velocityrelative to Sun(km/s) Uncertaintyregion(3-sigma) Solarelongation 23 August 2029 ≈07:22 3.9 25.7 ± 1.4 km 177.9°
Agathe was named after the youngest daughter of Austrian astronomer Theodor von Oppolzer (1841–1886), professor of astronomy in Vienna.
References
External links Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database Minor Planet Discovery Circumstances