(12077) Frankthorne Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 20 March 1998 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Frank Thorne mentored a finalist in the 2019 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #5, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Frankthorne is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Frankthorne is 2.89 au from the Sun and 2.84 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12077 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 FZ70 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.61 km (#9,556 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.154 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.71 |
| Orbital period | 4.24 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.25 – 2.99 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.141 |
| Inclination | 14.5° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.26 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Frank
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All asteroids named after someone called Frank
Also discovered on 20 March 1998
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- (8745) Delaney
- (8954) Baral
- (9126) Samcoulson
- (9243) Alag
- (9454) Ardeishar
- (11169) Alkon
- (11170) Bradenmilford
- (11173) Jayanderson
- (11174) Carandrews
- (11176) Batth
- (11685) Adamcurry
More named asteroids discovered by LINEAR
- (7904) Morrow
- (8744) Cilla
- (8745) Delaney
- (8954) Baral
- (9126) Samcoulson
- (9243) Alag
- (9454) Ardeishar
- (9458) Beaumont
- (9459) Gracecai
- (9461) Cotingkeh
- (9463) Criscione
- (9465) Fergusonsam
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