(73640) Biermann Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 September 1977 by H.-E. Schuster at La Silla.
Ludwig Biermann (1907-1986) was the first director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik. He made pioneering studies on stellar convection and the solar chromosphere and corona. His 1951 study of the structural changes in the tail of comet C/1942 X1 provided the first evidence of the existence of the solar wind.Naming citation (20050721/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Biermann is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Biermann is 2.77 au from the Sun and 3.61 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 73640 |
| Provisional designation | 1977 RM |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.05 km (#8,842 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0610 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.47 |
| Orbital period | 4.20 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.60 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.40 – 2.81 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0777 |
| Inclination | 23.6° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.50 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ludwig
- (8055) Arnim
- (8056) Tieck
- (10955) Harig
- (17484) Ganghofer
- (24666) Miesvanrohe
- (24712) Boltzmann
- (25029) Ludwighesse
- (29185) Reich
- (48472) Mossbauer
- (243109) Hansludwig
All asteroids named after someone called Ludwig