(8793) Thomasmuller Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 22 August 1979 by C.-I. Lagerkvist at La Silla.

Named in honor of Thomas G. Müller for his contribution to the study of minor planets in the thermal infrared. His observational work includes mid- to far-infrared photometry, spectroscopy and polarimetry with the Infrared Space Observatory. He has developed and applied various thermophysical models and techniques, in order to derive physical properties of minor planets. Because of the great accuracy he achieved, future telescope projects in the infrared will also benefit from these efforts, since minor planets are well suited as calibration targets, Name proposed and citation prepared by J. S. V. Lagerros.Naming citation (19981208/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Thomasmuller is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Thomasmuller is 2.88 au from the Sun and 3.74 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	8793
Provisional designation	1979 QX
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	5.14 km (#10,354 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.221
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.82
Orbital period	4.03 years
Semi-major axis	2.53 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.16 – 2.90 au
Eccentricity	0.146
Inclination	2.38°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.18 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Thomas

All asteroids named after someone called Thomas

Also discovered on 22 August 1979

More named asteroids discovered by C.-I. Lagerkvist

All 102

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