(52293) Mommsen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 October 1990 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
German classical historian and epigraphist Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) revolutionized the study of Roman history and initiated the exploration of the Roman border fortifications in Germany (“limes”). A powerful writer, he won the 1902 Nobel Prize in literature.Naming citation (20030501/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mommsen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mommsen is 3.17 au from the Sun and 4.17 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 52293 |
| Provisional designation | 1990 TQ3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.97 km (#5,119 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0350 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.26 |
| Orbital period | 5.66 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.18 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.55 – 3.80 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.198 |
| Inclination | 10.9° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.59 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Theodor
All asteroids named after someone called Theodor
Also discovered on 12 October 1990
- (6194) Denali
- (6209) Schwaben
- (8847) Huch
- (10761) Lyubimets
- (10762) von Laue
- (10763) Hlawka
- (10764) Rubezahl
- (11508) Stolte
- (15262) Abderhalden
- (15265) Ernsting
- (15724) Zille
- (16505) Sulzer