(8486) Asherschel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 August 1989 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
Alexander Stewart Herschel (1836–1907) was professor of natural philosophy at the Universities of Glasgow and Durham. His extensive observations and compilations of meteor radiants and their relationship to comet orbits led to significant advances in the subject. He also made visual spectroscopic observations of meteors.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #1, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Asherschel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Asherschel is 3.48 au from the Sun and 4.48 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8486 |
| Provisional designation | 1989 QV |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 10.9 km (#4,642 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0770 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.39 |
| Orbital period | 5.61 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.16 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.71 – 3.60 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.142 |
| Inclination | 23.6° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.74 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alexander
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- (4837) Bickerton
- (6941) Dalgarno
- (7660) Alexanderwilson
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- (17073) Alexblank
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All asteroids named after someone called Alexander