(7247) Robertstirling Inner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 October 1991 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
Robert Stirling (1790-1878) was a Scottish inventor who invented and built the first practical closed-cycle hot-air engine. Although several other designs were invented elsewhere, this general class of engine, incorporating his ‘Economiser’, is now termed the Stirling engine.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2014-08-10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Robertstirling is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Robertstirling is 1.88 au from the Sun and 2.15 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7247 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 TD1 |
| Orbit class | Inner Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.61 km (#16,044 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.431 |
| Rotation period | 3.17 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.62 |
| Orbital period | 2.65 years |
| Semi-major axis | 1.92 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.69 – 2.14 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.118 |
| Inclination | 22.9° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.694 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Robert
- (1955) McMath
- (3514) Hooke
- (3875) Staehle
- (4564) Clayton
- (4809) Robertball
- (5109) Robertmiller
- (5308) Hutchison
- (5477) Holmes
- (5585) Parks
- (5636) Jacobson
- (5739) Robertburns
- (5817) Robertfrazer
All asteroids named after someone called Robert