(18125) Brianwilson
Minor planet number 18125 has been named in honor of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.The citation announcing the naming appeared on Minor Planet Circular 43046 (issued on 2001 July 5), from which the following is extracted with permission:
(18125) Brianwilson = 2000 OF
Discovered 2000 July 22 by J. Broughton at Reedy Creek Observatory.
Californian songwriter and record producer Brian Wilson (b. 1942)
contributed to 1960s pop culture, with songs like Fun Fun Fun,
exemplifying the pastimes of modern teenage life, through the Beach
Boys' pop group harmonies, giving out very good vibrations indeed.
Read about how minor planets are named.
About (18125) Brianwilson
(18125) Brianwilson is in a 5.55-year elliptical orbit around the sun ranging in distance from 410.8 million km (at perihelion, closest point to the sun) to 527.1 million km (at aphelion, furthest point from the sun).The next perihelion passage will occur on 2012 Apr. 14.0 UT.
The orbit is inclined by 2.5 degrees to the ecliptic plane (the plane of the earth's orbit about the sun).
There is little information on the physical properties of (18125) Brianwilson. Even its diameter is uncertain--a range of 4 to 8 km is probable.
You will need a telescope to see this minor planet as its maximum brightness is some 1/48046 of the brightness of the faintest objects that can be seen with the unaided eye.
The diagram below show the orbit of (18125) Brianwilson in relation to the major planets in the inner solar system.
This view of the inner solar system is seen from the north ecliptic pole. The sun is the yellow star at the center of the image. The blue orbits represent, in increasing distance from the center, the major planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter. The position of each major planet at the date indicated at the bottom of the plot is shown by the large circled cross. The orbit of the minor planet is shown in red, with the location of the minor planet (at the date indicated at the bottom of the plot) shown as a white circled cross. From this vantage point the planets revolve around the sun in a counter clockwise direction. The vernal equinox is off to the right. The portion of the minor planet's orbit that is below the plane of the earth's orbit is shaded grey. The perihelion point of the minor planet's orbit is at the end of the white straight line through the sun indicated by "P".
Also available is information on provisional designations.
Where is (18125) Brianwilson tonight? Customisable ephemerides are available.
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