2486 Metsähovi

Lore & Background

2486 Metsähovi orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.1–2.4 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,248 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic. The asteroid is classified as stony and is part of a synchronous binary system, with a moon discovered in 2006 from lightcurve observations and announced in 2007.

The minor planet was named for a donated farm near Helsinki, where various institutes have established their observing stations: the Finnish Geodetic Institute for space geodesy, the University of Helsinki for astrophysics, and the Helsinki University of Technology for radio astronomy. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 26 May 1983 (M.P.C. 7946).

Reader's Guide

2486 Metsähovi is significant as a stony asteroid and synchronous binary system from the inner asteroid belt, with a diameter of approximately 10 kilometers. Its discovery by Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä at the Turku Observatory on 22 March 1939 adds to the catalog of early asteroid discoveries. The asteroid's naming honors a donated farm near Helsinki that hosts observing stations for multiple scientific institutes, including the Finnish Geodetic Institute, the University of Helsinki, and the Helsinki University of Technology, reflecting its connection to Finnish astronomy and geophysics. The discovery of its moon in 2006 from lightcurve observations, announced in 2007, makes it part of the growing class of binary asteroids, providing insights into asteroid formation and dynamics. Its orbit, with a period of 1,248 days, eccentricity of 0.08, and inclination of 8°, places it in the inner main belt. The naming citation was officially published on 26 May 1983.

Did You Know?

• 2486 Metsähovi is a stony asteroid and synchronous binary system.
• The asteroid was named after a donated farm near Helsinki used for observing stations.