Hermentaria (minor planet designation: 346 Hermentaria) is a very large main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by French astronomer Auguste Charlois on 25 November 1892, in Nice. It is probably named for the town of Herment in the region of Auvergne, France. The asteroid is orbiting the Sun with a period of and an eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.10. The orbital plane is inclined by 8.7° to the plane of the ecliptic. This body has a rotation period of during which it varies in brightness with an amplitude of magnitude. It has a cross-section diameter of . 346 Hermentaria is classified as a (stony) S-type asteroid, indicating a siliceous mineralogical composition. The near infrared spectra of this object show absorption features that suggest a mix of the minerals clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. It may be thermally–evolved, having at least partially melted at some point. The overall shape resembles a prolate spheroid. References External links 000346 000346 000346 Discoveries by Auguste Charlois Named minor planets 18921125