(12947) Paulgroot Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 March 1971 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Paul Groot (b. 1971) is a Dutch astronomer, specializing in the study of astronomical transients. In 1997, he was co-discoverer of the first optical counterpart of a γ-ray burst. Paul is principal investigator of the BlackGEM Telescope Array at ESO’s La Silla Observatory.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #17, 16), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Paulgroot is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Paulgroot is 2.04 au from the Sun and 2.49 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12947 |
| Provisional designation | 3099 T-1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.50 km (#13,974 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.275 |
| Rotation period | 3.27 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.52 |
| Orbital period | 3.30 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.22 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.97 – 2.46 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.109 |
| Inclination | 5.46° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.997 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Paul
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- (6726) Suthers
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All asteroids named after someone called Paul
Also discovered on 26 March 1971
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- (5492) Thoma
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- (6257) Thorvaldsen
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- (6674) Cezanne
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- (7367) Giotto
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