(4208) Kiselev Outer Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 6 September 1986 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.

Named in honor of Nikolaj Nikolaevich Kiselev, department head at the Astrophysical Institute of the Tadjik Academy of Sciences, Dushanbe. A preeminent observer of stars, comets and minor planets, Kiselev has carried out work that resulted in the discovery of a number of light-scattering effects in cometary atmospheres. He was leader of the Soviet program of polarimetric and photometric observations of Comet Halley and is one of the initiators of modern investigations of minor planets in the Soviet Union. Under his leadership the Sanglok Observatory, dark-sky site of the Astrophysical Institute, was built. Citation prepared by D. F. Lupishko at the request of the discoverer.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #10, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Kiselev is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kiselev is 3.00 au from the Sun and 2.29 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	4208
Provisional designation	1986 RQ2
Orbit class	Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	30.4 km (#1,341 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.0580
Absolute magnitude (H)	11.4
Orbital period	5.75 years
Semi-major axis	3.21 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.98 – 3.44 au
Eccentricity	0.0706
Inclination	16.8°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.99 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Nikolaj

All asteroids named after someone called Nikolaj

Also discovered on 6 September 1986

More named asteroids discovered by E. Bowell

All 554

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