Hirayama family

A group of asteroids with similar orbital elements (notably, semimajor axis, eccentricity, and inclination) widely believed to have resulted from collisions between larger parent bodies. They are named after the Japanese astronomer Kiyotsugu Hirayama (1874–1943) who first recognized the existences of such families in 1918.

Related category

• ASTEROIDS AND OTHER MINOR PLANETS: TYPES AND GROUPS

Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

BACK TO TOP