(31239) Michaeljames Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 21 February 1998 by I. P. Griffin at Cocoa.
Michael James (b. 1970) is a high-school teacher of English at Kenwood High School, Baltimore County, Maryland. During his teaching career he has inspired many students to take a deep interest in literature.Naming citation (20070601/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Michaeljames is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Michaeljames is 2.24 au from the Sun and 1.89 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 31239 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 DV1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.52 km (#11,596 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.343 |
| Rotation period | 2.98 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.72 |
| Orbital period | 4.18 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.59 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.08 – 3.11 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.198 |
| Inclination | 12.0° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.12 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
- (3192) A'Hearn
- (4477) Kelley
- (4599) Rowan
- (5373) Michaelkurtz
- (5554) Keesey
- (5569) Colby
- (6406) Mikejura
- (6569) Ondaatje
- (7738) Heyman
- (7936) Mikemagee
- (8032) Michaeladams
- (8129) Michaelbusch
All asteroids named after someone called Michael