Overview

274301 Wikipedia is a numbered minor planet located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. As a member of the vast population of small bodies circling the Sun in that region, it contributes to our understanding of solar system formation and the diversity of asteroid types.

Discovery and naming

The object was discovered in 2008 by observers at the Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory in Ukraine. After its orbit was confirmed and it received a permanent number, the discoverers proposed the name "Wikipedia". The name was later approved and the official naming citation published by the Minor Planet Center in January 2013. The designation "274301" identifies its place in the sequential numbering of confirmed minor planets.

Orbit and physical properties

Like most main-belt asteroids, 274301 follows an orbit around the Sun that lies between Mars and Jupiter. Detailed physical characteristics such as exact size, rotation period, spectral class and composition are not widely published; many numbered asteroids are known primarily from their orbital elements and brightness measurements, leaving finer properties to follow-up observations by professional or amateur astronomers.

Significance and context

Its name highlights a modern tradition of naming small solar system bodies after cultural and scientific institutions. Such names serve both to honor contributions to knowledge and to engage the public with planetary science. 274301 is one of many asteroids whose names reflect human culture, demonstrating how astronomical nomenclature connects science and society.

Further information