(28077) Hard Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 August 1998 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Michael W. Hard (b. 1937) is a long-time friend of Lowell Observatory who has championed the Observatory in many ways. He had a 39-year senior executive career in banking in Arizona and served as a trustee on two foundation boards of directors. Michael was also very active in the community after retirement.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2024-11-15), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Hard is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Hard is 2.27 au from the Sun and 3.11 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 28077 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 QH55 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.15 km (#16,848 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.419 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.12 |
| Orbital period | 3.34 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.24 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.11 – 2.36 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0578 |
| Inclination | 5.71° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.12 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
- (3192) A'Hearn
- (4477) Kelley
- (4599) Rowan
- (5373) Michaelkurtz
- (5554) Keesey
- (5569) Colby
- (6406) Mikejura
- (6569) Ondaatje
- (7738) Heyman
- (7936) Mikemagee
- (8032) Michaeladams
- (8129) Michaelbusch
All asteroids named after someone called Michael
Also discovered on 27 August 1998
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- (12557) Caracol
- (13722) Campobagatin
- (13723) Kolokolova
- (13724) Schwehm
- (14120) Espenak
- (14121) Stuwe
- (14122) Josties
- (14572) Armando
- (14573) Montebugnoli
- (23819) Tsuyoshi
- (25052) Rudawska