(12323) Haeckel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 September 1992 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
The naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919), a professor of zoology in Jena, was the greatest German representative of the theory of evolution. He extended this theory by inclusion of humans, as well as by formulation of the biogenetic law. In 1908 he founded Jena's Phyletic Museum.Naming citation (20000523/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Haeckel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Haeckel is 2.28 au from the Sun and 2.73 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12323 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 RX |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.09 km (#14,979 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.508 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.32 |
| Orbital period | 3.26 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.20 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.86 – 2.54 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.154 |
| Inclination | 4.19° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.852 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ernst
- (3949) Mach
- (5053) Chladni
- (11042) Ernstweber
- (11043) Pepping
- (13086) Sauerbruch
- (14990) Zermelo
- (16441) Kirchner
- (16714) Arndt
- (20016) Rietschel
- (25628) Kummer
- (112328) Klinkerfues
- (173002) Dorfi
All asteroids named after someone called Ernst
Also discovered on 4 September 1992
- (7094) Godaisan
- (9060) Toyokawa
- (9612) Belgorod
- (10114) Greifswald
- (13559) Werth
- (21109) Sunkel
- (21110) Karlvalentin
- (65708) Ehrlich