(12998) Thomas-Keprta Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.
Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta (b. 1957) has made major contributions to the study of extraterrestrial materials. Her research on magnetites found within the Martian meteorite ALH84001 revealed that they could be of biogenic origin.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #11, 9), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Thomas-Keprta is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Thomas-Keprta is 2.48 au from the Sun and 1.98 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12998 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 EB43 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.66 |
| Orbital period | 4.00 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.52 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.38 – 2.66 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0558 |
| Inclination | 1.97° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.37 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 2 March 1981
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- (2919) Dali
- (2980) Cameron
- (2981) Chagall
- (2990) Trimberger
- (3000) Leonardo
- (3121) Tamines
- (3122) Florence
- (3207) Spinrad
- (3252) Johnny
- (3304) Pearce
- (3524) Schulz