(8284) Cranach Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 8 October 1991 by F. Borngen at Tautenburg.

Named in honor of the German painter, draftsman and copper engraver Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). As a friend of Luther and Melanchthon, he is reputed to be the primary master of the German Reformation period. His first work is ascertainable in Vienna; beginning in 1505, he was an esteemed court painter for the elector of Saxony Friedrich der Weise in Wittenberg. One of his best-known works is the altarpiece in the main church of Weimar, which was completed by his son Lucas Cranach the Younger.Naming citation (19980610/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Cranach is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Cranach is 2.89 au from the Sun and 3.81 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	8284
Provisional designation	1991 TT13
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	19.6 km (#2,250 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.0520
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.74
Orbital period	5.49 years
Semi-major axis	3.11 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.71 – 3.51 au
Eccentricity	0.129
Inclination	11.6°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.74 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 8 October 1991

(20016) Rietschel

More named asteroids discovered by F. Borngen

All 302

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