(23404) Bomans Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 September 1972 by T. Gehrels at Palomar.
Godfried Jan Arnold Bomans (1913-1971) was a popular Dutch author known for his books of modern-day fairy tales and his short, humorous pieces full of parody and acerbic wit. His young-adult fantasy novel Eric in the Land of the Insects (1940) was turned into a film in 2004. The name was suggested by L. E. Timmerman.Naming citation (20091202/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Bomans is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Bomans is 2.81 au from the Sun and 3.47 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 23404 |
| Provisional designation | 1972 RG |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.62 km (#13,667 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.241 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.15 |
| Orbital period | 3.45 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.28 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.72 – 2.85 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.247 |
| Inclination | 21.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.817 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Godfried
All asteroids named after someone called Godfried