(11332) Jameswatt Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 April 1996 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
In 1765, Scottish inventor James Watt (1736-1819) suggested using a separate condenser in the steam engine, lessening the consumption of steam and fuel in fire engines. With the invention of the double-acting machine, in which the piston pushed as well as pulled, “Watt's engine” was nearly complete.Naming citation (20000320/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Jameswatt is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Jameswatt is 2.92 au from the Sun and 3.43 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 11332 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 GO20 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.29 km (#12,070 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.264 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.16 |
| Orbital period | 4.25 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.32 – 2.93 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.117 |
| Inclination | 2.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.33 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called James
- (4445) Jimstratton
- (5310) Papike
- (5594) Jimmiller
- (5625) Jamesferguson
- (5627) Short
- (5680) Nasmyth
- (5961) Watt
- (6130) Hutton
- (6758) Jesseowens
- (8146) Jimbell
- (8621) Jimparsons
- (9007) James Bond
All asteroids named after someone called James
Also discovered on 15 April 1996
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- (9795) Deprez
- (10183) Ampere
- (10374) Etampes
- (12444) Prothoon
- (13641) de Lesseps
- (14513) Alicelindner