(12766) Paschen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 9 November 1993 by E. W. Elst at Caussols.
Louis Paschen (1865-1947) was a German physicist and an outstanding spectroscopist. In 1895, he investigated the spectrum of the helium atom and showed that several lines were identical with lines found in the solar spectrum. He is also know for Paschen's law on the breakdown mechanism in gases.Naming citation (20041126/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Paschen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Paschen is 2.99 au from the Sun and 3.67 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12766 |
| Provisional designation | 1993 VV4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 10.3 km (#4,942 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.153 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.88 |
| Orbital period | 5.30 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.04 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.88 – 3.20 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0527 |
| Inclination | 9.73° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.90 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Louis
- (6605) Carmontelle
- (7645) Pons
- (8617) Fellous
- (9135) Lacaille
- (9969) Braille
- (10930) Jinyong
- (11248) Bleriot
- (11309) Malus
- (11796) Nirenberg
- (11969) Gay-Lussac
- (12715) Godin
- (12750) Berthollet
All asteroids named after someone called Louis