(168321) Josephschmidt Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 September 1991 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
Joseph Schmidt (1904-1942), an operatic tenor who performed in the world's top concert halls, also had a phenomenal career in radio and film. He emigrated from Germany in 1933, and after wandering through several countries he died in a Swiss refugee camp. The name was suggested by the first discoverer and M. Griesser.Naming citation (20080122/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Josephschmidt is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Josephschmidt is 2.94 au from the Sun and 3.92 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 168321 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 RJ3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.66 km (#13,553 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0300 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.68 |
| Orbital period | 4.06 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.55 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.90 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.255 |
| Inclination | 3.65° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.887 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Joseph
- (2157) Ashbrook
- (4225) Hobart
- (5034) Joeharrington
- (5577) Priestley
- (5883) Josephblack
- (6540) Stepling
- (6743) Liu
- (7656) Joemontani
- (8023) Josephwalker
- (8255) Masiero
- (8661) Ratzinger
- (8794) Joepatterson
All asteroids named after someone called Joseph
Also discovered on 12 September 1991
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- (9187) Walterkroll
- (9344) Klopstock
- (10782) Hittmair
- (21074) Rugen
- (21075) Heussinger
- (21076) Kokoschka
- (23490) Monikohl
- (24712) Boltzmann
- (24713) Ekrutt
- (27758) Michelson
- (46563) Oken