(15708) Metsoc Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 September 1988 by S. J. Bus at Cerro Tololo.
Since its establishment in 1933, the Meteoritical Society has united meteorite scientists from around the world. In addition to hosting an annual conference, the Society publishes the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science and works to promote meteorite science in regions previously underrepresented in the community, including South America and Africa.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #15, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Metsoc is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Metsoc is 3.12 au from the Sun and 3.63 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15708 |
| Provisional designation | 1988 RB12 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.13 km (#10,379 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.185 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.02 |
| Orbital period | 4.06 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.55 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.256 |
| Inclination | 5.43° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.885 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 14 September 1988
- (4831) Baldwin
- (5233) Nastes
- (5257) Laogonus
- (5395) Shosasaki
- (6443) Harpalion
- (6899) Nancychabot
- (7565) Zipfel
- (7817) Zibiturtle
- (8482) Wayneolm
- (8642) Shawnkerry
- (8829) Buczkowski
- (9319) Hartzell