(12498) Dragesco Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 March 1998 by ODAS at Caussols.
Jean Dragesco (b. 1920) is an accomplished biologist and amateur astronomer. For many years, using various telescopes, he worked in Africa, where he made exquisite high-resolution photographs of the solar system that have inspired many amateur astronomers around the world.Naming citation (20000523/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Dragesco is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Dragesco is 3.17 au from the Sun and 2.70 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12498 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 FY14 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.22 km (#12,210 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.395 |
| Rotation period | 2.53 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.76 |
| Orbital period | 4.36 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.67 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.99 – 3.34 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.252 |
| Inclination | 13.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Jean
- (2221) Chilton
- (2267) Agassiz
- (3821) Sonet
- (8116) Jeanperrin
- (8604) Vanier
- (9138) Murdoch
- (9968) Serpe
- (10111) Fresnel
- (10215) Lavilledemirmont
- (10440) van Swinden
- (12286) Poiseuille
- (12611) Ingres
All asteroids named after someone called Jean
Also discovered on 26 March 1998
- (12497) Ekkehard
- (17779) Migomueller
- (19410) Guisard
- (52703) Bernardleblanc
- (55913) Alinedupin
- (58782) Suhelahmeti
- (65937) Herveconstans
- (69596) Balkowski