(6948) Gounelle Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.
Matthieu Gounelle (b. 1971) is curator of meteorites at Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle in Paris. His research encompasses both physical and theoretical studies focused on the evolution of the early solar system.Naming citation (20060809/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gounelle is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gounelle is 2.74 au from the Sun and 3.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6948 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 ET22 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.63 km (#13,640 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.256 |
| Rotation period | 12.1 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.6 |
| Orbital period | 3.71 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.40 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.01 – 2.78 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.160 |
| Inclination | 2.58° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Matthieu
All asteroids named after someone called Matthieu
Also discovered on 2 March 1981
- (2884) Reddish
- (2919) Dali
- (2980) Cameron
- (2981) Chagall
- (2990) Trimberger
- (3000) Leonardo
- (3121) Tamines
- (3122) Florence
- (3207) Spinrad
- (3252) Johnny
- (3304) Pearce
- (3524) Schulz