(312676) Posner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 19 January 2007 by P. A. Wiegert at Maunakea.
German-born space scientist Arik Posner (b. 1968) created ReleASE (Relativistic Electron Alert System for Exploration). It warns astronauts of solar radiation events. He also designed the first dedicated radiation detector placed on another planet, Mars, on the NASA Curiosity rover. With it, on the way to Mars, Arik discovered the Hohmann-Parker effect.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Posner is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Posner is 2.49 au from the Sun and 1.55 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 312676 |
| Provisional designation | 2010 MF36 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.25 km (#16,699 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.105 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.3 |
| Orbital period | 5.34 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.06 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.47 – 3.64 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.192 |
| Inclination | 9.44° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.47 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.