(5380) Sprigg Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 May 1991 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
Named for Reginald C. Sprigg (1919-1994), Australian exploration geologist, oceanographer, biologist, author and conservationist who in 1946 discovered the diverse pre-Cambrian Ediacaran soft-body fauna fossils representing the earliest known multicellular life on the earth. Sprigg's recognition of hydrocarbons in central Australia led to the discovery of the vast Cooper Basin gas and oil fields. His work on the formation of Australian deserts and dunes has resulted in greater understanding of present-day climate patterns. In 1968 he founded the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the northern Flinders Ranges, and this includes an astronomical observatory. Name suggested by D. I. Steel and citation prepared by the Sprigg family.Naming citation (19980411/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Sprigg is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sprigg is 3.12 au from the Sun and 2.41 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5380 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 JT |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.61 km (#8,115 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.280 |
| Rotation period | 3.22 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.24 |
| Orbital period | 4.14 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.58 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.03 – 3.12 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.213 |
| Inclination | 9.31° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.02 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Reginald
All asteroids named after someone called Reginald