(12870) Rolandmeier Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 June 1998 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Roland C. Meier (b. 1964), of Gretag Imaging, Zurich, is well known for his research on the chemistry of comets, ranging from studies of the chemistry observed in situ at 1P/Halley with Giotto to numerous optical and radio studies using ground-based telescopes. The name was suggested by M. F. A'Hearn.Naming citation (20020724/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Rolandmeier is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Rolandmeier is 2.27 au from the Sun and 3.23 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12870 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 MK37 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.87 km (#10,876 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.225 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.0 |
| Orbital period | 4.13 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.57 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.12 – 3.03 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.177 |
| Inclination | 7.20° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.10 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Roland
- (10087) Dechesne
- (11585) Orlandelassus
- (11823) Christen
- (26984) Fernand-Roland
- (28105) Santallo
- (31387) Lehoucq
- (79842) Jourdain
- (362420) Rolandgarros
- (428102) Rolandwagner
All asteroids named after someone called Roland
Also discovered on 24 June 1998
- (9469) Shashank
- (12535) Fazlurahman
- (12537) Kendriddle
- (12869) Ejiaga
- (12871) Samarasinha
- (13246) Hannahshu
- (13247) Tianshi
- (13248) Fornasier
- (20395) Jacquet
- (20396) Jaemannkyeong
- (20397) Jamierobinson
- (21527) Horton