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1977 PO1. Discovered 1977 Aug. 14 by N. S. Chernykh at Nauchnyj.
This Hilda group member is named in honor of the well-known Canadian geologist Alan R. Hildebrand (1955– ), who discovered that the Chicxulub Crater in the Yucatan region resulted from an asteroid impact that coincided with the terminal Cretaceous extinctions. His linking of a “smoking gun” to a major extinction event in geologic history provided evidence of fundamental importance to the resolution of a centuries-old debate on the demise of the dinosaurs and the occurrence of catastrophes in the earth’s history. Hildebrand also has been highly supportive of the asteroid research program at the University of Victoria. (M 24410)
Named by the discoverer at the suggestion of J. B. Tatum. Citation provided by D. Russell.
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(2003). (5661) Hildebrand. In: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5358
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5358
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