9241 Rosfranklin

9241 Rosfranklin is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, discovered in 1997 by astronomer Paul G. Comba at the Prescott Observatory in Arizona. It is named in honor of the pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin, whose work was critical to understanding the structure of DNA. The asteroid follows a stable orbit within the main belt and is classified as a member of the Flora family.

Discovery and naming

The asteroid was discovered on August 10, 1997, by American astronomer Paul G. Comba using the Schmidt telescope at the Prescott Observatory. It was given the provisional designation **1997 PE6** by the Minor Planet Center following standard IAU protocols. After its orbit was sufficiently well-determined, it received the permanent number 9241. The name **Rosfranklin** was officially published by the Minor Planet Center on May 9, 2001, upon the suggestion of the discoverer, honoring the British scientist Rosalind Franklin. This naming is part of a tradition of christening minor planets after distinguished figures from science and culture.

Physical characteristics

Based on its albedo and spectral data, 9241 Rosfranklin is classified as a stony S-type asteroid, which is common among members of the Flora family in the inner asteroid belt. Observations of its light curve have not yet definitively determined its rotation period. Its absolute magnitude is calculated to be 14.5, which, combined with an assumed typical albedo for S-type bodies, suggests a diameter of approximately 3 to 7 kilometers. Further studies by surveys such as the Pan-STARRS project could refine these estimates of its size, shape, and surface composition.

Orbit and classification

9241 Rosfranklin is a core member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main asteroid belt. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at an average distance of 2.25 AU, completing one revolution every 3.38 years (1,233 days). Its orbit has a low eccentricity of 0.11 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. The asteroid's perihelion is 2.00 AU, and its aphelion is 2.50 AU, ensuring it does not cross the orbit of Mars. Its stable orbital parameters are dynamically influenced by the 3:1 Kirkwood gap resonance with Jupiter.

Rosalind Franklin namesake

The asteroid is named for Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958), a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose foundational research was instrumental in deciphering the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Her famous Photograph 51, an X-ray diffraction image of DNA, provided critical evidence used by James Watson and Francis Crick in proposing the double helix model. Despite her premature death from ovarian cancer, her contributions to biophysics and molecular biology have been posthumously recognized with numerous honors, including the naming of this celestial body, the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and the ESA's ExoMars rover.

Category:Asteroids named for people Category:Discoveries by Paul G. Comba Category:Flora asteroids Category:Minor planets