(400309) Ralfhofner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 October 2007 by M. Fiedler at Radebeul.
Ralf Hofner (1960-2014) was a German amateur astronomer and founder of one of the biggest European Star Parties, located near Herzberg, Brandenburg. Together with other amateur astronomers he established the Elsterland Observatory, which was completed in 2010.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2016-02-22), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Ralfhofner is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Ralfhofner is 2.51 au from the Sun and 2.07 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 400309 |
| Provisional designation | 2007 TC185 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.83 |
| Orbital period | 3.72 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.40 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.01 – 2.79 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.162 |
| Inclination | 5.59° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.00 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ralf
All asteroids named after someone called Ralf
Also discovered on 14 October 2007
- (173094) Wielicki
- (333620) Scottfrancis
- (341359) Gregneumann
- (341520) Mors-Somnus
- (345971) Marktorrence
- (345972) Rufin
- (417955) Mallama