(11796) Nirenberg Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 21 February 1980 by L. G. Karachkina at Nauchnyj.
American mathematician Louis Merses Nirenberg (b. 1925) is an expert in the theory of differential equations, mathematical physics and functional analysis.Naming citation (20000320/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Nirenberg is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Nirenberg is 2.83 au from the Sun and 2.42 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 11796 |
| Provisional designation | 1980 DS4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.93 km (#6,657 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0420 |
| Rotation period | 43.5 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.49 |
| Orbital period | 3.66 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.38 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 2.86 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.203 |
| Inclination | 4.70° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.888 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Louis
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- (12715) Godin
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All asteroids named after someone called Louis