(8988) Hansenkoharcheck Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 June 1979 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J. at Siding Spring.
Candice J. Hansen-Koharcheck (b. 1953) is an American planetary scientist who specializes in the seasonal behavior of volatiles on objects throughout the Solar System. Her long history with NASA missions extends from the imaging teams of Voyager to JunoCam (as lead) and Europa Clipper. She is known for her award-winning science and leadership.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #6, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Hansenkoharcheck is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Hansenkoharcheck is 4.04 au from the Sun and 4.50 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8988 |
| Provisional designation | 1979 MA4 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 15.6 km (#2,979 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0870 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.63 |
| Orbital period | 6.30 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.41 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.68 – 4.14 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.214 |
| Inclination | 4.16° |
| 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 discovered on 25 June 1979
- (2343) Siding Spring
- (2392) Jonathan Murray
- (2441) Hibbs
- (2618) Coonabarabran
- (2619) Skalnate Pleso
- (2628) Kopal
- (2682) Soromundi
- (2704) Julian Loewe
- (3129) Bonestell
- (3205) Boksenberg
- (3756) Ruscannon
- (3817) Lencarter