274301 Wikipedia facts for kids
274301 Wikipedia is a small space rock, also known as an asteroid, that orbits the Sun. It's found in a busy area of space called the asteroid belt, which is located between the planets Mars and Jupiter. This asteroid was first spotted by astronomers at the Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory in 2008. It was officially named "Wikipedia" in January 2013, after the famous online encyclopedia.
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What is an Asteroid?
Asteroids are like small planets, but they are much smaller and have irregular shapes. They are made of rock, metal, or a mix of both. Most asteroids in our Solar System are found in the main asteroid belt. This belt is a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Scientists believe asteroids are leftover pieces from the early formation of our Solar System, about 4.6 billion years ago.
Discovery of 274301 Wikipedia
Who Found It?
The asteroid 274301 Wikipedia was discovered by a team of astronomers at the Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory. This observatory is located in Ukraine. They found the asteroid on August 25, 2008.
How Are Asteroids Discovered?
Astronomers use powerful telescopes to scan the night sky. They take many pictures of the same area over several nights. By comparing these pictures, they look for objects that move against the background of fixed stars. If an object moves, it could be an asteroid, a comet, or even a new planet. Once a moving object is found, its path is tracked carefully to confirm it's a new discovery.
Why Is It Named Wikipedia?
The Naming Process
After an asteroid is discovered and its orbit is confirmed, it gets a temporary name. Later, the discoverers can suggest a permanent name to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU is the official group that names celestial objects. They check if the name follows their rules.
Honoring Wikipedia
The astronomers who discovered this asteroid decided to name it "Wikipedia." This name was approved by the IAU on January 27, 2013. They chose this name to honor the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. They wanted to recognize Wikipedia as a free source of knowledge for everyone. The IAU stated that Wikipedia is "one of the largest compilations of knowledge in human history." They also noted that it is used by millions of people worldwide.
