28221

28221 is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on October 11, 1977, by the American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The asteroid is named after the year of its discovery, 1977, and the number 221, which is the sum of the digits of the year.

28221 has an estimated diameter of about 10 kilometers and orbits the Sun with a period of approximately 4.4 Earth years. Its orbit is inclined at an angle of about 12 degrees to the ecliptic plane, and it has an eccentricity of 0.15, indicating a relatively circular orbit.

The asteroid's spectral type is X, which suggests that it has a primitive composition, likely consisting of carbonaceous material. This type of composition is common among asteroids in the outer regions of the asteroid belt.

28221 is not a particularly notable asteroid, but it is part of a larger group of asteroids that share similar orbital characteristics. These asteroids are thought to have originated from the same region of the asteroid belt and have been dynamically influenced by the gravitational forces of the planets, particularly Jupiter.

The study of minor planets like 28221 contributes to our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system. By analyzing their orbits, compositions, and other properties, scientists can piece together the history of the asteroid belt and the processes that have shaped it over billions of years.