(12491) Musschenbroek Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 May 1997 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Petrus van Musschenbroek (1692-1761) was a Dutch experimental scientist who will be always remembered for his invention of the Leiden jar, a capacitor capable of collecting electrostatic electricity. In 1792 he published his treatise on experimental physics, Physicae experimentales.Naming citation (20040928/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Musschenbroek is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Musschenbroek is 2.93 au from the Sun and 3.89 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12491 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 JE15 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.11 km (#7,503 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.201 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.34 |
| Orbital period | 4.93 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.90 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.75 – 3.05 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0515 |
| Inclination | 2.81° |
| 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 Petrus
All asteroids named after someone called Petrus
Also discovered on 3 May 1997
- (9239) van Riebeeck
- (9446) Cicero
- (9447) Julesbordet
- (10612) Houffalize
- (11349) Witten
- (12052) Aretaon
- (12490) Leiden
- (12492) Tanais
- (12845) Crick
- (13211) Stucky
- (13212) Jayleno
- (13213) Maclaurin
More named asteroids discovered by E. W. Elst
- (3631) Sigyn
- (3784) Chopin
- (3870) Mayre
- (3903) Kliment Ohridski
- (3910) Liszt
- (3912) Troja
- (3918) Brel
- (4038) Kristina
- (4226) Damiaan
- (4342) Freud
- (4344) Buxtehude
- (4345) Rachmaninoff
← (12490) Leiden · (12492) Tanais →