(3887) Gerstner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 22 August 1985 by A. Mrkos at Klet.
Named in memory of the physicist František Josef Gerstner (1756-1832) and his son František Antonín Gerstner (1795-1840). F. J. Gerstner worked at the observatories in Vienna and Prague but then turned from astronomy to applied mathematics, physics, mechanics and metallurgy. He founded the Prague Polytechnic School, later Technical University, in 1806. He also designed the horse railroad from České Budějovice to Linz. F. A. Gerstner continued building this horse railroad, which was completed in 1832 and is considered the first railroad in continental Europe. Name suggested by J. Ticha and M. Šolc.Naming citation (19960828/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gerstner is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gerstner is 2.69 au from the Sun and 2.54 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 3887 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 QX |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.65 km (#6,025 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.259 |
| Rotation period | 7.34 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.88 |
| Orbital period | 5.18 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.00 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.67 – 3.32 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.110 |
| Inclination | 9.94° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.67 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Josef
- (4176) Sudek
- (4663) Falta
- (5552) Studnicka
- (7699) Bozek
- (9872) Solf
- (10919) Pepikzicha
- (12320) Loschmidt
- (14056) Kainar
- (14948) Bartuska
- (15917) Rosahavel
- (17625) Joseflada
- (19268) Morstadt
All asteroids named after someone called Josef