(3696) Herald Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 17 July 1980 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.

Where Herald is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsHeraldHerald

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Herald is 3.51 au from the Sun and 3.87 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number3696
Provisional designation1980 OF
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter16.3 km (#2,824 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0880
Absolute magnitude (H)12.52
Orbital period5.53 years
Semi-major axis3.13 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.67 – 3.58 au
Eccentricity0.145
Inclination10.1°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.66 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 17 July 1980

More named asteroids discovered by E. Bowell