63305 Bobkepple, provisional designation , is a carbonaceous Hygiean
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
from the outer regions of the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, located roughly between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies, of many sizes, but much smaller than planets, called ...
, approximately in diameter. It was discovered on 17 March 2001, by astronomer David Healy at the
Junk Bond Observatory
The Junk Bond Observatory (JBO; code: 701) is located in the Sonoran Desert at Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States.
It was established by amateur astronomer David Healy in his backyard in 1996, using a Celestron 14 SCT and a 16-inch Meade L ...
in Arizona, United States. The asteroid was named after Bob Kepple, co-author of ''The Night Sky Observer’s Guide''.
Orbit and classification
''Bobkepple'' is a member of the
Hygiea family The Hygiea or Hygiean family is a grouping of dark, carbonaceous C-type and B-type asteroids in outer asteroid belt, the largest member of which is 10 Hygiea. About 1% of all known asteroids in the asteroid belt belong to this family.
Characteri ...
(), a large
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of carbonaceous outer-belt asteroids, named after
10 Hygiea
Hygiea (minor-planet designation: 10 Hygiea) is a major asteroid and possible dwarf planet located in the main asteroid belt. With a diameter of and a mass estimated to be 3% of the total mass of the belt, it is the fourth-largest asteroid in ...
, the main belt's fourth-largest asteroid. It orbits the Sun in the