(15412) Schaefer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 January 1998 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
John P. Schaefer (b. 1934), founder, in association with Ansel Adams, of the Center for Creative Photography of the University of Arizona, was president of the university during 1971-1982, including the time of formation of the department of planetary sciences. He has also served as president of the Research Corporation.Naming citation (20040713/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Schaefer is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Schaefer is 3.23 au from the Sun and 3.83 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15412 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 AU3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 10.5 km (#4,806 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.110 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.71 |
| Orbital period | 5.65 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.53 – 3.81 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.201 |
| Inclination | 2.89° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.54 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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