(8338) Ralhan Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 March 1985 by Copenhagen Observatory at Brorfelde.
Danish physicist Philip Ralhan Bidstrup (b. 1979) obtained a doctorate from the University of Copenhagen in 2008 based on a feasibility study for detecting and observing small minor planets by a spacecraft in deep space. The name was suggested by A. C. Andersen.Naming citation (20080520/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Ralhan is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Ralhan is 2.03 au from the Sun and 2.14 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8338 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 FE3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.79 km (#11,028 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.336 |
| Rotation period | 5.27 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.01 |
| Orbital period | 3.39 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.26 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.84 – 2.68 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.186 |
| Inclination | 7.96° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.834 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Philip
- (4448) Phildavis
- (6580) Philbland
- (7220) Philnicholson
- (7277) Klass
- (8615) Philipgrahamgood
- (9004) Peekaydee
- (10030) Philkeenan
- (11581) Philipdejager
- (11790) Goode
- (13112) Montmorency
- (15766) Strahlenberg
- (17797) Philfrankel
All asteroids named after someone called Philip