(10242) Wasserkuppe Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

The Wasserkuppe, at 950 m, is the highest peak in the Rhön. The area is used for glider training.Naming citation (20030501/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Wasserkuppe is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsWasserkuppeWasserkuppe

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wasserkuppe is 2.37 au from the Sun and 3.31 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number10242
Provisional designation2808 P-L
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Rotation period8.77 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)15.04
Orbital period3.77 years
Semi-major axis2.42 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.05 – 2.80 au
Eccentricity0.153
Inclination2.05°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.07 au

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

Also discovered on 24 September 1960

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.