31824 Elatus
31824 Elatus (, provisional designation: ) is a very red centaur from the outer Solar System, approximately in diameter. It was discovered on 29 October 1999, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, United States. The minor planet was named after Elatus, a centaur from Greek mythology. Orbit and classification Elatus orbits the Sun at a distance of 7.3–16.3 AU once every 40 years and 7 months (14,826 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.38 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at Apache Point Observatory in September 1998, thirteen months prior to its official discovery observation. Naming This minor planet was named after Elatus, a centaur from Greek mythology, who was killed during a battle with Heracles (also see 5143 Heracles) by a poisoned arrow that passed through his arm and continued to wound Chiron in the knee (also see 2060 Chiron). The name "Elatus" means "fir man" and is associated with woodlands. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 14 June 2003 (). Physical characteristics Rotation period Two rotational lightcurves