(12320) Loschmidt Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 August 1992 by E. W. Elst at Caussols.
Czech physicist Josef Loschmidt (1821-1895) used the kinetic theory of gases to get the first reasonable estimate of molecular size. To distinguish it from Avogadro's number, the term Loschmidt's number has been reserved for the number of molecules in one cubic centimeter of a gas under standard conditions.Naming citation (20040306/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Loschmidt is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Loschmidt is 2.12 au from the Sun and 3.09 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12320 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 PH1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.06 km (#16,967 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.378 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.53 |
| Orbital period | 3.20 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.95 – 2.39 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.101 |
| Inclination | 4.17° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.938 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Josef
- (3887) Gerstner
- (4176) Sudek
- (4663) Falta
- (5552) Studnicka
- (7699) Bozek
- (9872) Solf
- (10919) Pepikzicha
- (14056) Kainar
- (14948) Bartuska
- (15917) Rosahavel
- (17625) Joseflada
- (19268) Morstadt
All asteroids named after someone called Josef
Also discovered on 8 August 1992
- (7296) Lamarck
- (8523) Bouillabaisse
- (8687) Caussols
- (8688) Delaunay
- (9059) Dumas
- (13088) Filipportera
- (20032) McNish
- (20033) Michaelnoble
- (21104) Sveshnikov
- (22341) Francispoulenc
- (90732) Opdebeeck