(29246) Clausius Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 September 1992 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
German physicist Rudolf Clausius (1822-1888) elaborated the kinetic theory of gases. He is one of the founders of the mechanical theory of heat. He formulated the second law of thermodynamics and introduced the term entropy. He is also one of the founders of statistical mechanics.Naming citation (20020526/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Clausius is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Clausius is 3.20 au from the Sun and 4.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 29246 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 RV |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 11.6 km (#4,242 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0460 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.69 |
| Orbital period | 4.54 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.74 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.28 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.169 |
| Inclination | 8.65° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.28 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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- (20013) Nureyev
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All asteroids named after someone called Rudolf
Also discovered on 2 September 1992
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