694 Amy Apr 2026
694 Ekard was first spotted on , by the prolific American astronomer Joel Hastings Metcalf in Taunton, Massachusetts. While Metcalf was the discoverer, the convention of the era often allowed those who calculated the orbit to name the object. This privilege fell to Seth Barnes Nicholson and his wife, Alma Stotts , who were then undergraduates at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
The couple chose a name that honored their alma mater in a clever, backwards fashion: is simply "Drake" spelled in reverse. This whimsical nomenclature remains one of the more unique stories in the Minor Planet Center’s records. Physical and Orbital Profile
Ekard is a fast spinner, completing a rotation on its axis in just 5.93 hours . 694 Amy
The Silent Giant: Unveiling 694 Ekard In the vast expanse of the asteroid belt—a cosmic junkyard between Mars and Jupiter—resides a celestial body with a peculiar name and a significant footprint: . Discovered at the dawn of the 20th century, this asteroid serves as more than just a wandering rock; it is a time capsule of the early solar system and a testament to the collaborative, sometimes playful nature of early astronomy. Discovery and a Mirror-Image Legacy
694 Ekard stands as a fascinating bridge between the historical era of visual discovery and the modern era of precision astrophysics. From its whimsical origin story at Drake University to its status as one of the largest residents of the asteroid belt, it continues to provide essential data about the "rocky relics" of our solar system's origins. While it may not be a target for human exploration anytime soon, it remains a vital piece of the celestial puzzle, drifting silently in the dark. 694 Ekard was first spotted on , by
For astronomers, 694 Ekard is a valuable subject for . By studying its "light curve"—the way its brightness varies as it rotates—scientists have been able to model its three-dimensional shape and determine its thermal inertia. These measurements, which range between 100–140 J m⁻² K⁻¹ s⁻¹/², help researchers understand the texture and composition of its surface, comparing it to substances like lunar regolith or coarse sand.
It completes a full revolution around the Sun every 4.35 years (1,590 days). The couple chose a name that honored their
Ekard is no mere pebble; it is a "silent giant" of the main belt. With an estimated diameter of approximately (about 76 miles), it is larger than 99% of all known asteroids. To put its size in perspective, it is roughly comparable to the size of the state of Connecticut. Key characteristics include:
