(6312) Robheinlein Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 September 1990 by H. E. Holt at Palomar.
Missouri-born Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) was one of the most influential authors of science fiction. His By His Bootstraps (1941) is considered to be one of the best science-fiction stories ever published, exploring some of the inherent paradoxes that would be caused by time travel. The name was suggested by J. Meeus.Naming citation (20060413/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Robheinlein is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Robheinlein is 2.03 au from the Sun and 1.55 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6312 |
| Provisional designation | 1990 RH4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.59 km (#13,735 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.314 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.27 |
| Orbital period | 3.23 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.18 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.03 – 2.33 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0694 |
| Inclination | 4.12° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 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
Also discovered on 14 September 1990
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- (6133) Royaldutchastro
- (6135) Billowen
- (6313) Tsurutani
- (6716) Jacobsen
- (10521) Jeremyhansen