(277118) Zaandam Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 April 2005 by A. Lowe at Mayhill.
The cruise ship MS Zaandam encountered the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 off the west coast of Mexico. In spite of weather challenges, the skill and expertise of Captain Ane Smit, his officers, and crew ensured that the discoverer of this minor planet and the other passengers onboard successfully observed the eclipse.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #9, 14), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Zaandam is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Zaandam is 2.85 au from the Sun and 3.10 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 277118 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 GS59 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.14 km (#12,411 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0490 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.0 |
| Orbital period | 5.62 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.16 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.74 – 3.58 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.132 |
| Inclination | 10.8° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.75 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.