(12776) Reynolds Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 August 1994 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Osbourne Reynolds (1842-1912) was a British engineer and physicist known for his work in fluid dynamics. He is remembered for the Reynolds' number (1883), which is defined by the difference between laminar and turbulent flow. He wrote a remarkable book: The Sub-mechanics of the Universe (1903).Naming citation (20041126/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Reynolds is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Reynolds is 2.42 au from the Sun and 2.84 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12776 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 PT31 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.00 km (#15,224 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.342 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.69 |
| Orbital period | 4.10 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.56 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.42 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0559 |
| Inclination | 3.57° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.40 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 12 August 1994
- (7142) Spinoza
- (8550) Hesiodos
- (9640) Lippens
- (9641) Demaziere
- (9778) Isabelallende
- (9879) Mammuthus
- (9880) Stegosaurus
- (10151) Rubens
- (10361) Bunsen
- (10841) Ericforbes
- (11095) Havana
- (11583) Breuer