(15739) Matsukuma Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 9 March 1991 by T. Seki at Geisei.
Astronomer Takehiko Matsukuma (1890-1950), specialized in celestial mechanics, particularly the three-body problem, and held a professorship of Tohoku University. He wrote Tenmongaku Shinwa (New Astronomy) for students in 1942, which was the first astronomy book that the discoverer of this minor planet encountered.Naming citation (20111012/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Matsukuma is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Matsukuma is 2.31 au from the Sun and 2.95 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15739 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 ER |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.06 km (#10,501 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.154 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.39 |
| Orbital period | 3.99 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.51 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.30 – 2.72 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0833 |
| Inclination | 8.05° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.32 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.