(34477) Muntz Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 24 September 2000 by LINEAR at Socorro.

Benjamin Muntz (b. 1998) was awarded second place in the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his physics and astronomy project. He attended the H.C. Orsted Gymnasiet i Lyngby, Bronshoj, Denmark.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #14, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Muntz is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsMuntzMuntz

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Muntz is 3.35 au from the Sun and 3.02 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number34477
Provisional designation2000 SJ120
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter8.27 km (#6,325 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0780
Absolute magnitude (H)14.16
Orbital period5.44 years
Semi-major axis3.09 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.72 – 3.47 au
Eccentricity0.121
Inclination2.13°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.73 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Benjamin

Also discovered on 24 September 2000

More named asteroids discovered by LINEAR