14335 Alexosipov

Orbit and classification

Alexosipov is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.8–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,220 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic. The first astrometric observations were already made at the discovering observatory in 1971, 10 years prior to its discovery. However, these observations were not used to extend the asteroid's observation arc.

Physical characteristics

Alexosipov has been characterized as a common S-type asteroid by Pan-STARRS photometric survey.

Rotation period

A rotational lightcurve of Alexosipov was obtained from photometric observations made by American astronomer Brian Skiff in October 2011. It gave a well-defined rotation period of hours with a low brightness variation of 0.10 in magnitude (). A low brightness amplitude typically indicates that the body has a nearly spheroidal shape.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's space-based Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Alexosipov measures 4.2 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.279, while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.24 – which derives from 8 Flora, the largest member and namesake of this orbital family – and calculates a diameter of 3.9 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 14.2.

Naming

This minor planet was named in memory of astronomer Alexandr Kuzmich Osipov (1920–2004), observer of artificial satellites, the Moon, planets and comets at the Astronomical Observatory of the Kyiv National University in Ukraine. He is described as a skilled teacher for many generations of students. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 15 December 2005 (M.P.C. 55721).

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