(21109) Sunkel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 September 1992 by Schmadel, L. D., Borngen, F. at Tautenburg.
Hans Sünkel (b. 1948) is professor of mathematical geodesy and geoinformatics at the Technical University of Graz. A well-known expert on the shape of the earth, he currently serves as the university's rector. The name was suggested by the first discoverer.Naming citation (20060613/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Sunkel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sunkel is 2.80 au from the Sun and 2.36 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 21109 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 RY |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 10.6 km (#4,765 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0680 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.45 |
| Orbital period | 5.48 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.11 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.72 – 3.50 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.125 |
| Inclination | 13.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.77 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Hans
- (3692) Rickman
- (4991) Hansuess
- (5323) Fogh
- (5475) Hanskennedy
- (6847) Kunz-Hallstein
- (8122) Holbein
- (9562) Memling
- (9689) Freudenthal
- (10542) Ruckers
- (12672) Nygardh
- (12729) Berger
- (13177) Hansschmidt
All asteroids named after someone called Hans
Also discovered on 4 September 1992
- (7094) Godaisan
- (9060) Toyokawa
- (9612) Belgorod
- (10114) Greifswald
- (12323) Haeckel
- (13559) Werth
- (21110) Karlvalentin
- (65708) Ehrlich