(31389) Alexkaplan Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 December 1998 by ODAS at Caussols.
Alexandre Kaplan (1901-1973) was an electrical engineer, with a passion for astronautics and astronomy. A member of the groupe de Lorraine of the Societe Astronomique de France, he built an observatory for the use of astronomy clubs around the city of Nancy.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2018-09-25), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Alexkaplan is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alexkaplan is 2.56 au from the Sun and 2.60 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 31389 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 YN2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.95 km (#15,339 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.185 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.42 |
| Orbital period | 3.74 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.41 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.12 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.121 |
| Inclination | 3.39° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.13 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alexandre
All asteroids named after someone called Alexandre
Also discovered on 17 December 1998
- (15052) Emileschweitzer
- (15053) Bochnicek
- (21602) Ialmenus
- (27147) Mercedessosa
- (47078) Llebaria
- (49439) Jeanlouispala
- (56067) Argerich