(12980) Pruetz Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 6 November 1978 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J. at Palomar.
Todd Orville Pruetz (b. 1968) contributed to NASA's Lucy mission as the Science Communications Publisher.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 1, #9, 12), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pruetz is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pruetz is 2.10 au from the Sun and 2.73 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12980 |
| Provisional designation | 1978 VO3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.73 |
| Orbital period | 3.50 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.31 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.87 – 2.74 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.189 |
| Inclination | 2.37° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.862 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Todd
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