(541983) Matthiaspenselin Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 April 2003 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Matthias Penselin (b. 1963) is a science teacher at the Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium in Crailsheim, Germany and a member of the Haus der Astronomie in Heidelberg, Germany. He is an avid astronomer and developer of teaching materials for astrophotography, asteroid searches, and spectroscopy.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #12, 25), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Matthiaspenselin is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Matthiaspenselin is 2.64 au from the Sun and 3.22 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 541983 |
| Provisional designation | 2012 GN5 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.49 |
| Orbital period | 4.56 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.75 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.63 – 2.87 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0431 |
| Inclination | 6.29° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.63 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Matthias
- (37584) Schleiden
- (53119) Matthiasgoerne
- (208196) Matthiashahn
- (230415) Matthiasjung
- (450737) Sarbievius
All asteroids named after someone called Matthias
Also discovered on 25 April 2003
- (95895) Sebastiano
- (114740) Luigitatto
- (127955) Alexandraradu
- (143626) Sevialdo
- (166944) Seton
- (326732) Nice