(4739) Tomahrens Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 October 1985 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.
Named in honor of Thomas J. Ahrens, professor of geophysics at the California Institute of Technology. Ahrens has built and directed the premier laboratory for experimental impact and shock physics, using light-gas guns. He has used this laboratory to investigate a broad array of problems, including the equations of state of minerals at very high pressure, shock metamorphism and cratering mechanics. He has also addressed problems of impact cratering by computer code calculations and investigated the accumulation and early bombardment of the earth and the evolution of the atmosphere. Citation provided by E. M. Shoemaker at the request of the discoverer.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #9, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Tomahrens is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Tomahrens is 2.62 au from the Sun and 1.69 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 4739 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 TH1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.98 km (#7,674 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.251 |
| Rotation period | 5.10 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.27 |
| Orbital period | 4.54 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.74 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.56 – 2.92 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0645 |
| Inclination | 1.76° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.58 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Thomas
- (4008) Corbin
- (4830) Thomascooley
- (4897) Tomhamilton
- (5548) Thosharriot
- (6019) Telford
- (6361) Koppel
- (8236) Gainsborough
- (8382) Mann
- (8793) Thomasmuller
- (9460) McGlynn
- (9536) Statler
- (9584) Louchheim
All asteroids named after someone called Thomas
Also discovered on 15 October 1985
- (3564) Talthybius
- (3595) Gallagher
- (3639) Weidenschilling
- (4057) Demophon
- (4281) Pounds
- (4445) Jimstratton
- (4446) Carolyn
- (4665) Muinonen
- (4696) Arpigny
- (5463) Danwelcher
- (5554) Keesey
- (6206) Corradolamberti