2202 Pele


2202 Pele, provisional designation, is an eccentric asteroid and near-Earth object of the Amor group, approximately 1–2 kilometers in diameter.
It was discovered by American astronomer Arnold Klemola at the U.S. Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, California, on 7 September 1972. The asteroid was named after Pele from native Hawaiian religion.

Orbit and classification

Pele orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.1–3.5 AU once every 3 years and 6 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.51 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic.
It is an Amor asteroid, the second largest subgroup of near-Earth objects, that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but does not cross it. It has an Earth minimum orbit intersection distance of, which corresponds to 55.6 lunar distances.
No precoveries were taken. The asteroid's observation arc starts two days after the official discovery observation.

Physical characteristics

As of 2017, Peles effective size, composition, and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown. It measures between 1 and 2 kilometers, based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, which assumes an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25.

Naming

This minor planet was named after Pele, the goddess of fire, lightning, and volcanoes from Hawaiian mythology. Pele created the Hawaiian Islands and made Kīlauea her home, after she was forced to go away by her rival sister and goddess of the sea, Nāmaka. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1980.