(10981) Fransaris Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 October 1977 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Frans Saris (b. 1942), Dean of Sciences at Leiden University and a distinguished atomic and molecular physicist, is well known for his advocacy of the role of science and technology for sustainable development and as a facilitator for fundamental research including that in astronomy. The name was suggested by T. de Zeeuw.Naming citation (20070106/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Fransaris is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Fransaris is 3.46 au from the Sun and 4.41 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 10981 |
| Provisional designation | 1148 T-3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.82 km (#5,209 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0550 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.05 |
| Orbital period | 4.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.79 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.12 – 3.47 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.243 |
| Inclination | 6.19° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.12 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Frans
All asteroids named after someone called Frans
Also discovered on 17 October 1977
- (4043) Perolof
- (6147) Straub
- (7447) Marcusaurelius
- (7854) Laotse
- (8440) Wigeon
- (9825) Oetken
- (11773) Schouten
- (11774) Jerne
- (12648) Ibarbourou
- (34978) van 't Hoff
- (55701) Ukalegon
- (55702) Thymoitos