(627939) Phyllisthornton Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 9 October 2012 by N. Falla at Mayhill.
Phyllis Thornton (1927–2023) was the sister-in-law of the discoverer. She worked for many years as a lunchtime assistant at a primary school located in an English village.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #6, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Phyllisthornton is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Phyllisthornton is 2.53 au from the Sun and 2.72 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 627939 |
| Provisional designation | 2012 TG71 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 18.55 |
| Orbital period | 3.73 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.40 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.18 – 2.63 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0932 |
| Inclination | 4.09° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.19 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Phyllis
All asteroids named after someone called Phyllis