(8728) Mimatsu Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 November 1996 by Endate, K., Watanabe, K. at Kitami.
Masao Mimatsu (1888-1977) was a Japanese postmaster and an amateur volcanologist. He made extensive observations of the development of the new volcanic dome Syowashinzan in Hokkaido in the 1940s. This work is summarized in the internationally known “Mimatsu Diagrams”.Naming citation (20010509/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mimatsu is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mimatsu is 2.52 au from the Sun and 3.17 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8728 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 VF9 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.82 km (#15,613 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.422 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.68 |
| Orbital period | 3.65 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.37 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.85 – 2.89 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.221 |
| Inclination | 3.02° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.852 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Masao
All asteroids named after someone called Masao
Also discovered on 7 November 1996
- (8417) Lancetaylor
- (8419) Terumikazumi
- (8575) Seishitakeuchi
- (8577) Choseikomori
- (10608) Mameta
- (10884) Tsuboimasaki
- (10885) Horimasato
- (12012) Kitahiroshima
- (12013) Sibatahosimi
- (19314) Nakamuratetsu
- (19315) Aizunisshinkan
- (21292) Kanetakoichi