(5442) Drossart Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 July 1991 by H. E. Holt at Palomar.
Named in honor of Pierre Drossart (b. 1956), researcher of the CNRS at Paris-Meudon Observatory. Drossart is a specialist on the atmospheres of the giant planets and has worked on the interpretation of the infrared spectra of Jupiter from Voyager and ground-based observations (Jupiter H2 measurements, first detection of H3+ on Jupiter, observations of aurorae, etc.). He has been involved as a co-investigator in several space-mission imaging spectrometers used to study Mars and the giant planets. Name suggested and citation provided by M. A. Barucci.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #9, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Drossart is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Drossart is 2.74 au from the Sun and 1.77 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5442 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 NH1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.44 km (#7,165 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.242 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.11 |
| Orbital period | 4.90 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.89 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.67 – 3.10 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0742 |
| Inclination | 1.48° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.66 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Pierre
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All asteroids named after someone called Pierre