(15963) Koeberl Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 6 February 1998 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Christian Koeberl (b. 1959) is a professor of geochemistry and cosmochemistry at the University of Vienna. His work involves the study of impact structures due to asteroidal bodies, as well as the investigation of the chemistry of tektites, impact glasses and lunar meteorites.Naming citation (20060613/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Koeberl is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Koeberl is 2.53 au from the Sun and 2.34 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15963 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 CY3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.59 km (#6,077 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.166 |
| Rotation period | 13.1 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.19 |
| Orbital period | 4.38 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.68 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.21 – 3.15 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.175 |
| Inclination | 13.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.25 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christian
- (3788) Steyaert
- (3905) Doppler
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- (12540) Picander
- (14613) Sanchez
- (16984) Veillet
- (19992) Schonbein
- (22848) Chrisharriot
- (39814) Christianlegrand
- (42613) Schaller
- (55772) Loder
- (62071) Voegtli
All asteroids named after someone called Christian
Also discovered on 6 February 1998
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- (10930) Jinyong
- (12850) Axelmunthe
- (18611) Baudelaire
- (19384) Winton
- (19386) Axelcronstedt
- (20237) Clavius
- (35446) Stana
- (257533) Iquique