(12838) Adamsmith Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 9 March 1997 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Adam Smith (1723-1790), a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, is renowned for An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1767). In this work he introduced the principle of the division of labor and suggested that self interest is the only way to reach socially beneficial results.Naming citation (20070730/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Adamsmith is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Adamsmith is 3.05 au from the Sun and 4.05 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12838 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 EL55 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Rotation period | 10.9 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.09 |
| Orbital period | 4.89 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.88 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.68 – 3.08 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0700 |
| Inclination | 1.16° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.69 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Adam
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- (15581) Adamkelly
- (17771) Elsheimer
- (17900) Leiferman
- (18084) Adamwohl
- (18142) Adamsidman
All asteroids named after someone called Adam