(59239) Alhazen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 February 1999 by S. Sposetti at Gnosca.
Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham (965-1040) was an astronomer, mathematician, doctor, philosopher and physicist. His work mainly dealt with the study of the visual phenomenon and with optical geometry. The name was suggested by P. Venzi.Naming citation (20051215/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Alhazen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alhazen is 2.68 au from the Sun and 3.67 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 59239 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 CR2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.05 km (#15,091 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.190 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.43 |
| Orbital period | 3.38 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.25 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.78 – 2.72 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.210 |
| Inclination | 7.14° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.788 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Abu
All asteroids named after someone called Abu