(12027) Masaakitanaka Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 January 1997 by N. Sato at Chichibu.
Japanese amateur astronomer Masaaki Tanaka (b. 1952) uses a Schmidt camera and binoculars to observe comets. He was one of the observers who rediscovered comet 122P/de Vico on 1995 Sept. 17.Naming citation (20090607/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Masaakitanaka is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Masaakitanaka is 2.06 au from the Sun and 1.50 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12027 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 AB5 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.78 |
| Orbital period | 3.76 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.42 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.02 – 2.82 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.164 |
| Inclination | 6.52° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Masaaki
All asteroids named after someone called Masaaki
Also discovered on 3 January 1997
- (7505) Furusho
- (9106) Yatagarasu
- (12460) Mando
- (12465) Perth Amboy
- (12828) Batteas
- (13188) Okinawa
- (16788) Alyssarose