43981

43981 is a minor planet in the outer region of the asteroid belt, orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on October 16, 1997, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico. The asteroid is approximately 3.5 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of about 4.5 Earth years. Its orbit is moderately eccentric and inclined, with an average distance from the Sun of about 2.7 astronomical units. 43981 is classified as a main-belt asteroid, a group of asteroids that orbit the Sun primarily between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid's spectral type is not well-determined, but it is likely to be a C-type asteroid, which are common in the outer asteroid belt and are thought to be composed of carbonaceous chondrites. The asteroid's rotation period is not well-known, but it is likely to be in the range of a few hours to a few days. 43981 is not a near-Earth object and poses no threat to Earth. It is named after the discoverer's institution, the Lincoln Laboratory.