(13038) Woolston Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 March 1990 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Thomas Woolston (1669-1731) was an English deist who advocated the allegorical interpretation of the scripture, denying absolutely the proof from miracles and calling into question the resurrection of Christ. He was therefore sentenced to pay a fine. He couldn't pay, and he died four years later in prison.Naming citation (20050125/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Woolston is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Woolston is 2.98 au from the Sun and 3.97 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 13038 |
| Provisional designation | 1990 EN4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.41 km (#9,867 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.263 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.78 |
| Orbital period | 5.15 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.98 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.87 – 3.10 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0379 |
| Inclination | 7.97° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.89 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Thomas
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- (4739) Tomahrens
- (4830) Thomascooley
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- (6361) Koppel
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- (8382) Mann
- (8793) Thomasmuller
- (9460) McGlynn
- (9536) Statler
All asteroids named after someone called Thomas
Also discovered on 2 March 1990
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- (5780) Lafontaine
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- (7285) Seggewiss
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- (9329) Nikolaimedtner
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- (13037) Potosi
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