(12874) Poisson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 19 August 1998 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Siméon-Denis Poisson (1781-1840) was a prolific French mathematician and inspiring teacher who left his mark on many branches of applied mathematics, including electricity and magnetism, celestial mechanics and elasticity. His name is also associated with the Poisson distribution in probability theory.Naming citation (20000320/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Poisson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Poisson is 2.70 au from the Sun and 2.51 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12874 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 QZ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.43 km (#9,828 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.261 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.69 |
| Orbital period | 4.80 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.85 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.65 – 3.04 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0682 |
| Inclination | 1.77° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.64 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Denis
- (8166) Buczynski
- (17139) Malyshev
- (29437) Marchais
- (30304) Denisvida
- (33160) Denismukwege
- (69839) Denishuber
- (79849) Denismourard
- (184315) Denisbogan
- (295472) Puy
- (597469) Denisleahy
All asteroids named after someone called Denis
Also discovered on 19 August 1998
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- (13705) Llapasset
- (14129) DiBucci
- (21562) Chrismessick
- (21563) Chetgervais
- (25015) Lairdclose
- (25074) Honami