(12656) Gerdebruijn Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 October 1977 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Ger de Bruijn (1948-2017) was a renowned Dutch radio astronomer who worked at Dwingeloo and Groningen. His expertise was key to the scientific and technical success of both the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope and LOFAR.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2018-10-26), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gerdebruijn is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gerdebruijn is 2.22 au from the Sun and 3.20 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12656 |
| Provisional designation | 5170 T-3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.22 km (#14,667 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.619 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.04 |
| Orbital period | 4.28 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.63 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.17 – 3.10 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.175 |
| Inclination | 10.9° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.19 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 16 October 1977
- (3798) de Jager
- (3936) Elst
- (4044) Erikhog
- (4108) Rakos
- (4722) Agelaos
- (4753) Phidias
- (4754) Panthoos
- (5610) Balster
- (5699) Munch
- (5700) Homerus
- (5984) Lysippus
- (6055) Brunelleschi