6708 Bobbievaile
Stony binary asteroid from the inner main belt.
6708 Bobbievaile, initially designated 1989 AA5, is a stony asteroid from the inner main belt, classified as a background object and an asynchronous binary system. Its diameter is roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles). The asteroid was discovered on 4 January 1989 by Australian astronomer Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, and it honors Bobbie Vaile. A key characteristic is that it has a minor-planet moon, making it a binary asteroid.
Orbiting the Sun between 2.0 and 2.9 AU, Bobbievaile completes one revolution every 3 years and 10 months (1,397 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 12° relative to the ecliptic. The first observation of this object occurred in 1979 as 1979 PF at El Leoncito, extending its known observation arc by a decade before the official discovery at Siding Spring.
On 7 May 2009, lightcurve observations revealed that Bobbievaile is a binary system. The primary body is estimated at 8.02 ± 0.02 km in diameter and is likely spherical, while its moon measures roughly 4.57 km across.
The asteroid was named for Roberta Anne "Bobbie" Vaile (1959–1996), an Australian astrophysicist and lecturer at Western Sydney University. A SETI enthusiast, she helped establish the SETI Australia Centre and contributed to Project Phoenix. The naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 April 1997 (M.P.C. 29671).
Quick Facts
- Minorplanet
- yes
- Background
- #D6D6D6
- Discovered
- 4 January 1989
- Discoverer
- R. H. McNaught
- Discovery Site
- Siding Spring Obs.
- Mpc Name
- (6708) Bobbievaile
- Mp Category
- main-belt(inner) / background
- Named After
- Bobbie Vaile / (astrophysicist)
- Epoch
- 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
- Uncertainty
- 0
- Observation Arc
- 37.81 yr (13,811 days)
- Aphelion
- 2.8864 AU
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bobbievaile is a stony, non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.9 AU once every 3 years and 10 months (1,397 days), with an eccentricity of 0.18 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic. It was first observed as 1979 PF at El Leoncito in 1979, extending the body's observation arc by 10 years prior to its official discovery observation at Siding Spring.
On 7 May 2009, it was announced that Bobbievaile was determined to be a binary asteroid based on a series of lightcurve observations. The primary is estimated to have a diameter of 8.02±0.02 km, and its minor-planet moon (the secondary) to have a diameter of approximately 4.57 km. The primary is probably spherical.
The minor planet was named in memory of Australian astrophysicist Roberta Anne 'Bobbie' Vaile (1959–1996), lecturer at Western Sydney University. She was a SETI enthusiast and participated in both the establishment of the SETI Australia Centre and the conduction of Project Phoenix. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 April 1997 (M.P.C. 29671).
Reader's Guide
The significance of 6708 Bobbievaile lies in its binary nature, announced on 7 May 2009 based on lightcurve observations. As an asynchronous binary system, it provides insights into the dynamics and formation of asteroid pairs in the inner main belt. The primary's probable spherical shape and the secondary's substantial size (approximately 4.57 km) make it a valuable object for studying binary asteroid systems. Its naming honors Australian astrophysicist Bobbie Vaile, a SETI enthusiast who helped establish the SETI Australia Centre and participated in Project Phoenix. The asteroid's discovery by Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory and its pre-discovery observations at El Leoncito in 1979 contribute to a well-documented observation arc. As a stony background asteroid, it represents a typical but scientifically interesting member of the inner main belt population, with its binary status adding to its legacy as a target for further study of asteroid satellite systems.
Did You Know?
- Bobbievaile is an asynchronous binary asteroid with a primary diameter of 8.02±0.02 km and a secondary diameter of approximately 4.57 km.
- It was first observed as 1979 PF at El Leoncito in 1979, extending its observation arc by 10 years before its official discovery.
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