(8437) Bernicla Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 26 March 1971 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Named for Branta bernicla, or Brant goose.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #8, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Bernicla is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsBerniclaBernicla

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Bernicla is 2.62 au from the Sun and 3.00 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number8437
Provisional designation3057 T-1
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter2.78 km (#15,689 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.329
Absolute magnitude (H)14.88
Orbital period4.02 years
Semi-major axis2.53 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.42 – 2.64 au
Eccentricity0.0420
Inclination2.45°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.41 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 26 March 1971

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.