(357243) Jefferies Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 18 October 2011 by Pan-STARRS 1 at Haleakala.
John T. Jefferies (b. 1925) is an Australian-American solar physicist and was the founder and first Director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy. He oversaw the development of several major telescopes on Mauna Kea, including the CFHT. He became the first Director of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories in 1984.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #14, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Jefferies is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Jefferies is 3.00 au from the Sun and 3.83 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 357243 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 OQ37 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.79 |
| Orbital period | 4.20 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.60 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.18 – 3.03 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.164 |
| Inclination | 14.4° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.23 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called John
- (3882) Johncox
- (3893) DeLaeter
- (4089) Galbraith
- (4147) Lennon
- (4525) Johnbauer
- (4656) Huchra
- (4987) Flamsteed
- (5207) Hearnshaw
- (5216) Cannizzo
- (5362) Johnyoung
- (5517) Johnerogers
- (5558) Johnnapier
All asteroids named after someone called John