2285 Ron Helin

2285 Ron Helin, provisional designation, is a stony Florian asteroid from the inner region of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 27 August 1976, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.

Orbit and characterization

Ron Helin is a member of the Flora family, one of the largest groups of stony asteroids in the main-belt. 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. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. Its rotation period is 12 hours.

Naming

This minor planet was named in honor of Ronald Helin, husband of American astronomer Eleanor Helin, in appreciation of his support of the Palomar Planet-Crossing Asteroid Survey. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 11 December 1981.