(129158) Michaelmellman Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 30 March 2005 by CSS at Catalina.
Michael J. Mellman (b. 1977) is the Lockheed Martin electrical ground equipment lead and test engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. He was also a shop lead for an electronics laboratory and a surveyor.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2016-08-18), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Michaelmellman is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Michaelmellman is 2.90 au from the Sun and 3.10 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 129158 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 FD8 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.48 km (#14,030 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.140 |
| Rotation period | 9.79 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.12 |
| Orbital period | 5.08 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.95 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.85 – 3.06 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0354 |
| Inclination | 11.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.85 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