(12289) Carnot Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 April 1991 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot (1796–1832) was a French physicist known for his caloric investigations. In 1824 he published Réflexions sur la puissance motrice du feu, which contained in essence the second law of thermodynamics.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #20, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Carnot is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Carnot is 2.04 au from the Sun and 1.72 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12289 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 GP7 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.62 km (#13,666 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.309 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.4 |
| Orbital period | 3.33 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.23 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.02 – 2.44 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0928 |
| Inclination | 2.39° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.04 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Nicolas
- (7346) Boulanger
- (10303) Freret
- (12742) Delisle
- (12999) Torun
- (13583) Bosret
- (14054) Dusek
- (14411) Clerambault
- (18638) Nouet
- (20605) Rambaux
- (25747) Nicerasmus
- (26969) Biver
- (43843) Cleynaerts
All asteroids named after someone called Nicolas
Also discovered on 8 April 1991
- (6487) Tonyspear
- (6647) Josse
- (6912) Grimm
- (7126) Cureau
- (7179) Gassendi
- (8277) Machu-Picchu
- (8369) Miyata
- (8665) Daun-Eifel
- (8852) Buxus
- (9180) Samsagan
- (9339) Kimnovak
- (9592) Clairaut