(11779) Zernike Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 October 1977 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Frits Zernike (1888-1966), Nobel Laureate in physics exactly half a century ago, was professor of physics and rector at Groningen University and a former assistant of Jacobus Kapteyn. By inventing the phase contrast microscope, he made a major contribution to the “telescope” of medical researchers and biologists.Naming citation (20031110/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Zernike is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Zernike is 2.88 au from the Sun and 3.88 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 11779 |
| Provisional designation | 4197 T-3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.70 km (#11,226 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.152 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.11 |
| Orbital period | 4.24 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.33 – 2.92 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.113 |
| Inclination | 4.68° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.33 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Frits
All asteroids named after someone called Frits
Also discovered on 16 October 1977
- (3798) de Jager
- (3936) Elst
- (4044) Erikhog
- (4108) Rakos
- (4722) Agelaos
- (4753) Phidias
- (4754) Panthoos
- (5610) Balster
- (5699) Munch
- (5700) Homerus
- (5984) Lysippus
- (6055) Brunelleschi