id ▁bel t , ▁approximately ▁ 4 6 ▁kilom eters ▁in ▁diameter . ▁It ▁was ▁discovered ▁on ▁ 5 ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁by ▁German ▁astronom er ▁Karl ▁Rein m uth ▁at ▁the ▁Heidel berg - K önig st u hl ▁State ▁Observ atory . ▁The ▁astero id ▁was ▁named ▁for ▁the ▁flow ering ▁plant ▁Ger an ium ▁( c ran es b ills ). ▁ ▁Or bit ▁and ▁classification ▁▁ ▁Ger an ium ▁is ▁a ▁non - family ▁astero id ▁from ▁the ▁main ▁bel t ' s ▁background ▁population . ▁It ▁or bits ▁the ▁Sun ▁in ▁the ▁outer ▁main - b elt ▁at ▁a ▁distance ▁of ▁ 2 . 6 – 3 . 8   AU ▁once ▁every ▁ 5 ▁years ▁and ▁ 9 ▁months ▁( 2 , 1 0 9 ▁days ; ▁semi - major ▁axis ▁ 3 . 2 2   AU ). ▁Its ▁orbit ▁has ▁an ▁ecc ent ric ity ▁of ▁ 0 . 1 9 ▁and ▁an ▁incl ination ▁of ▁ 1 6 ° ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁the ▁e cli ptic . ▁ ▁The ▁body ' s ▁observation ▁arc ▁begins ▁at ▁U cc le ▁Observ atory , ▁four ▁days ▁after ▁its ▁official ▁discovery ▁observation ▁at ▁Heidel berg . ▁ ▁Phys ical ▁characteristics ▁▁ ▁Ger an ium ▁has ▁been ▁character ized ▁as ▁a ▁carbon ace ous ▁C - type ▁astero id ▁by ▁SD SS – M FB ▁( M asi ▁F og lia ▁Bus ). ▁ ▁Rot ation ▁period ▁▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1