(12896) Geoffroy Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 August 1998 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772-1844) established in Philosophie anat-omique (2 volumes, 1818-1822) the principle of unity of organic composition among vertebrates (and later also invertebrates). Opposing Cuvier, Geoffroy's concepts created a receptive scientific audience for Darwin's evolution theory.Naming citation (20030318/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Geoffroy is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Geoffroy is 5.06 au from the Sun and 6.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12896 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 QV102 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 14.1 km (#3,379 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.118 |
| Rotation period | 15.1 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.43 |
| Orbital period | 7.90 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.97 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.83 – 5.10 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.285 |
| Inclination | 6.34° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.84 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Etienne
All asteroids named after someone called Etienne
Also discovered on 26 August 1998
- (10637) Heimlich
- (12893) Mommert
- (12895) Balbastre
- (13293) Mechelen
- (21553) Monchicourt
- (21564) Widmanstatten
- (22692) Carfrekahl
- (22694) Tyndall
- (25029) Ludwighesse
- (28078) Mauricehilleman