10239 Hermann facts for kids
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovery date | 10 October 1998 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | 10239 |
| 1998 TY30 | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch May 14, 2008 | |
| Aphelion | 3.9198261 |
| Perihelion | 2.4112681 |
| Eccentricity | 0.2382776 |
| 2057.1767124 | |
| 301.94366 | |
| Inclination | 16.96145 |
| 28.60983 | |
| 293.22557 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 12.8 | |
10239 Hermann (also known as 1998 TY30) is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun. It is part of the main asteroid belt, which is a busy region between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids like Hermann are sometimes called minor planets.
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What is Hermann?
Hermann is an asteroid, which is a space rock that is smaller than a planet. Most asteroids are made of rock, metal, or a mix of both. They are leftovers from when our solar system first formed, about 4.6 billion years ago.
Hermann is officially named "10239 Hermann". The number "10239" means it was the 10,239th asteroid to be given a permanent number. It also has a temporary name, "1998 TY30", which tells us when it was first seen.
Where is Hermann Located?
Hermann is found in the main asteroid belt. This belt is a huge donut-shaped area in space. It is located between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter.
The main asteroid belt is home to millions of asteroids. They range in size from tiny dust particles to objects hundreds of kilometers wide. Hermann is one of these many space rocks.
How Was Hermann Discovered?
Hermann was discovered on October 10, 1998. Astronomers use powerful telescopes to find new objects in space. When they spot something new, they track its movement. If it keeps orbiting the Sun, it might be given a new name and number.
Hermann's Journey Around the Sun
Like planets, asteroids travel around the Sun in a path called an orbit. Hermann's orbit is not a perfect circle; it's more like an oval shape.
- Aphelion: This is the point in Hermann's orbit when it is farthest from the Sun.
- Perihelion: This is when Hermann is closest to the Sun.
- Period: It takes Hermann about 2057 days to complete one full trip around the Sun. That's about 5.6 years!
- Inclination: Hermann's orbit is tilted compared to the main plane where most planets orbit. Its tilt is about 17 degrees.
Astronomers also measure how bright an asteroid appears from Earth. Hermann has an "absolute magnitude" of 12.8. This number helps scientists estimate its size, even though we don't have exact measurements for Hermann yet.
