Editing 2598 Merlin (section)

== Classification and orbit ==

''Merlin'' is a member of the [[Dora family]] ({{small|[[FIN tbl#512|512]]}}), a well-established central [[asteroid family]] of more than 1,200 carbonaceous asteroids. The family's namesake is [[668&nbsp;Dora]]. It is alternatively known as the "Zhongolovich family", named after its presumably largest member [[1734&nbsp;Zhongolovich]]. The Dora family may also contain a subfamily.<ref name="Broz-2013" /><ref name="Nesvorny-2014" />{{rp|13,23}}

''Merlin'' orbits the Sun in the [[Kirkwood gap|central]] main-belt at a distance of 2.2–3.4&nbsp;[[Astronomical unit|AU]] once every 4 years and 8 months (1,694 days). Its orbit has an [[orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] of 0.22 and an [[orbital inclination|inclination]] of 8[[Degree (angle)|°]] with respect to the [[ecliptic]].<ref name="jpldata" /> In Nombember 1948, the asteroid was first identified {{mp|1948 WH}} at [[Uccle Observatory]], where the body's [[observation arc]] begins 32 years prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.<ref name="MPC-Merlin" />