(124844) Hirotamasao Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 October 2001 by H. Maeno at Shishikui.
Masao Hirota (1930-1997) worked in the desalinization industry and was an avid amateur astronomer. He popularized astronomy in Tokushima prefecture, where this minor planet was discovered. This discovery was performed with the help of the Japan Space Guard Association.Naming citation (20070926/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Hirotamasao is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Hirotamasao is 1.93 au from the Sun and 0.940 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 124844 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 TF15 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.78 |
| Orbital period | 3.59 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.34 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.87 – 2.82 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.204 |
| Inclination | 2.35° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.877 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Masao
All asteroids named after someone called Masao
Also discovered on 13 October 2001
- (34852) Shteyman
- (34854) Paquifrutos
- (34862) Utkarshtandon
- (34863) Lientang
- (55418) Bianciardi
- (110408) Nakajima
- (110625) Feryalozel
- (110702) Titostagno