(20010) Tomfrench Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 August 1991 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Thomas W. French (b. 1950), a biologist and former assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, led the successful reintroduction of peregrine falcons and bald eagles in Massachusetts after their native populations were wiped out due to extensive use of the insecticide DDT from the 1940s to 1972.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #10, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Tomfrench is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Tomfrench is 2.15 au from the Sun and 1.38 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20010 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 PN2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.29 |
| Orbital period | 3.87 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.47 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.03 – 2.90 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.177 |
| Inclination | 4.15° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.01 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Thomas
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- (4830) Thomascooley
- (4897) Tomhamilton
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- (6361) Koppel
- (8236) Gainsborough
- (8382) Mann
- (8793) Thomasmuller
- (9460) McGlynn
- (9536) Statler
All asteroids named after someone called Thomas
Also discovered on 2 August 1991
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