(11740) Georgesmith Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 22 October 1998 by ODAS at Caussols.

George Smith (b. 1930) co-invented the CCD while at Bell Laboratories in 1969. This device has revolutionized both amateur and professional astronomy. This minor planet was automatically detected by a CCD during a professional survey.Naming citation (20000726/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Georgesmith is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsGeorgesmithGeorgesmith

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Georgesmith is 2.91 au from the Sun and 2.32 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number11740
Provisional designation1998 UK6
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter5.90 km (#9,078 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.266
Absolute magnitude (H)13.49
Orbital period4.96 years
Semi-major axis2.91 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.86 – 2.95 au
Eccentricity0.0151
Inclination1.43°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.88 au

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

Also named after someone called George

Also discovered on 22 October 1998

More named asteroids discovered by ODAS