Discovered by E. W. Elst MPC designation 11948 Justinehénin Discovered 18 August 1993 Orbits Sun Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 18 August 1993 Minor planet category main-belt · (inner) Absolute magnitude 13.2 Discoverer Eric Walter Elst | |
Alternative names 1993 QQ4 · 1973 AE31991 EJ8 · 1997 GW24 Discovery site Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie | ||
11948 Justinehénin, provisional designation 1993 QQ4, is an asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 12 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 18 August 1993, by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst at Caussols Observatory in southeastern France.
The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.8–3.6 AU once every 5 years and 9 months (2,091 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 2° with respect to the ecliptic. The first identification was made at Crimea–Nauchnij in 1973, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 31 years prior to its discovery As of 2016, the asteroid's effective size, its composition and albedo, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.
Based on an absolute magnitude of 13.2, the asteroid is calculated to measure between 6 and 14 kilometers in diameter, assuming an albedo in the range of 0.05 to 0.25. Since asteroids in the outer main-belt are mostly of a carbonaceous rather than of a silicaceous composition, with low albedos, typically around 0.06, the asteroid's diameter might be on the upper end of NASA's published conversion table, as the lower the body's reflectivity (albedo), the larger its diameter at a constant absolute magnitude (brightness).
The minor planet was named for Belgian former professional tennis player Justine Henin (b. 1985). Although her name contains no accent, the asteroid's official name does. Naming citation was published on 10 September 2003 (M.P.C. 49674).