(3979) Brorsen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 November 1983 by A. Mrkos at Klet.
Named in memory of Theodor Brorsen (1819-1895), Danish astronomer, known for his discoveries of five comets and his studies of the gegenschein. After studying and working in Kiel, Heidelberg and Altona he worked at the private observatory of baron John Parish in Senftenberg (Žamberk) in eastern Bohemia from 1847 to 1870. Name suggested by J. Ticha.Naming citation (19960828/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Brorsen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Brorsen is 3.12 au from the Sun and 2.23 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 3979 |
| Provisional designation | 1983 VV1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 18.7 km (#2,387 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.121 |
| Rotation period | 5.48 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.18 |
| Orbital period | 5.47 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.11 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.01 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0294 |
| Inclination | 3.06° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Theodor
All asteroids named after someone called Theodor