(11349) Witten Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 May 1997 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Edward Witten (b. 1951) is a physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and one of the premier theoretical physicists of our time. He has made fundamental contributions to particle physics and string theory. In 1990 he was awarded the Fields Medal, the highest prize in mathematics.Naming citation (20000726/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Witten is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Witten is 2.22 au from the Sun and 3.11 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 11349 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 JH16 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.87 km (#15,524 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.283 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.09 |
| Orbital period | 3.68 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.38 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.08 – 2.69 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.128 |
| Inclination | 5.46° |
| 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 named after someone called Edward
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- (11202) Teddunham
All asteroids named after someone called Edward
Also discovered on 3 May 1997
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