(18381) Massenet Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 30 December 1991 by E. W. Elst at Haute Provence.
Jules Massenet (1842-1912) was a prolific French composer of operas. His greatest successes were Manon (1884), Werther (1892) and Thaïs (1894). The Méditation, a violin solo with orchestra from Thaïs, became world famous. In 1878 he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.Naming citation (20100726/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Massenet is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Massenet is 3.17 au from the Sun and 3.75 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 18381 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 YU |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.76 km (#5,954 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.145 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.28 |
| Orbital period | 4.69 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.80 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.40 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.142 |
| Inclination | 6.64° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.42 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Jules
All asteroids named after someone called Jules
Also discovered on 30 December 1991
- (6159) Andreseloy
- (6793) Palazzolo
- (7016) Conandoyle
- (9054) Hippocastanum
- (9356) Elineke
- (9604) Bellevanzuylen
- (19188) Dittebesard