(187447) Johnmester Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 29 November 2005 by V. Reddy at Goodricke-Pigott.
John Clark Mester (b. 1961) is the former Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Arizona, where he established space situational awareness and quantum information initiatives. A physicist by training, he was instrumental in the development and launch of NASA's Gravity Probe B mission.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 1, #8, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Johnmester is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Johnmester is 2.28 au from the Sun and 2.84 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 187447 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 WD117 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.72 |
| Orbital period | 4.46 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.71 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.12 – 3.30 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.219 |
| Inclination | 15.0° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.14 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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