(12180) Kistemaker Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 16 October 1977 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Jacob Kistemaker (1917-2010), Teylers professor at Leiden University, was a pioneer in isotope separation, uranium enrichment, atomic and molecular collisions, and vacuum science and technology. Name suggested by H. Habing and F. Saris.Naming citation (20110715/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Kistemaker is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsKistemakerKistemaker

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kistemaker is 2.84 au from the Sun and 2.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number12180
Provisional designation5167 T-3
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter8.45 km (#6,179 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0750
Absolute magnitude (H)14.11
Orbital period5.56 years
Semi-major axis3.14 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.84 – 3.44 au
Eccentricity0.0947
Inclination10.3°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.83 au

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

Also named after someone called Jacob

All asteroids named after someone called Jacob

Also discovered on 16 October 1977

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.

All 958

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