(10900) Folkner Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 30 November 1997 by T. Kobayashi at Oizumi.

William Folkner (b. 1956), a principal scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is a recognized authority on the planetary ephemerides. He continually improves the orbital positions of all the planets using a wide variety of ground-based and space-based observations.Naming citation (20100130/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Folkner is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsFolknerFolkner

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Folkner is 2.65 au from the Sun and 2.68 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number10900
Provisional designation1997 WF21
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter6.86 km (#7,820 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0720
Absolute magnitude (H)14.76
Orbital period3.76 years
Semi-major axis2.42 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.00 – 2.84 au
Eccentricity0.174
Inclination3.34°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.01 au

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

Also named after someone called William

Also discovered on 30 November 1997

More named asteroids discovered by T. Kobayashi