(11341) Babbage Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 December 1996 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Intending to automate complex arithmetical calculations, British mathematician Charles Babbage (1791-1871) developed plans for the analytical engine, a device controlled by punched cards, containing a “mill” to execute instructions and a memory unit to store partial results---the conceptual forerunner of modern computers.Naming citation (19991123/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Babbage is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Babbage is 2.25 au from the Sun and 2.43 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 11341 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 XE2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.40 km (#11,831 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.302 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.66 |
| Orbital period | 3.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.38 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.25 – 2.52 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0568 |
| Inclination | 7.35° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.27 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 3 December 1996
More named asteroids discovered by P. G. Comba
- (7684) Marioferrero
- (8223) Bradshaw
- (8224) Fultonwright
- (8407) Houlahan
- (8420) Angrogna
- (8580) Pinsky
- (8583) Froberger
- (8734) Warner
- (8945) Cavaradossi
- (9238) Yavapai
- (9445) Charpentier
- (9662) Frankhubbard
← (11339) Orlik · (11348) Allegra →