Moomintroll

Moomintroll is asteroid #58345 and also known as 1995 CZ1. Moomintroll’s orbit is characterized by a semi-major axis of 1.93 Astronomical Units, an eccentricity of 0.04, a period of revolution of 979 days, and an inclination of 17.6 degrees. Moomintroll is a member of the Hirayama-family (not only the asteroid group) Hungaria (within the group Hungaria). Moomintroll was discovered by the British astronomer David J. Asher at the Siding Spring Observatory.

Moomintroll is named after the fictional character Moomintroll. The asteroid caught my attention because the name made me expect that it would be the name of a legendary monster of the troll category. But I didn’t know anything about this fictional monster, while Wikipedia this time is astoundingly detailed on this topic. So I quote the official naming citation and then Wikipedia:

Moomintroll is the central character of the classic 1946 novel Comet in Moominland (Swedish title Kometjakten) by Finnish author Tove Jansson. Moomintroll and his friends discover that a comet is on a collision orbit with the Earth and the story details their adventures to avoid the threatened catastrophe.

Ref: Minor Planet Circ. 75103

Moomintroll (Swedish: Mumintrollet – invented mumin + troll, “troll”; also simply Moomin) is the protagonist of most of the books.[4]

In the cartoon strip Moomintroll finds himself beset by endless problems. He is a “moomin” – a little white troll with a hippopotamus-like big round snout.[5]

Moomin is very close with Snorkmaiden. They have a very sweet and romantic relationship in the early books.[6] However, later on he and Snorkmaiden are not seen together as often and after ‘Moominland Midwinter’ Moomin refers to Snorkmaiden as a friend. How their relationship is portrayed varies between adaptations. For example, the 1990 animated series shows him consistently, if shyly, returning her affections.

His best friend is Snufkin.[7][8] Snufkin is inspired by Atos Wirtanen, Tove Jansson’s close friend and at one point, fiancé.[9] Moomintroll is also an author avatar for Jansson, meaning the two characters were based on real-life lovers. Because of this real-life parallel, their relationship is sometimes examined in the context of queer theory.[10][11]

Moomintroll was initially called “snork”. Jansson described him as her alter ego.[11] The character has a mostly positive reception from critics.[12][13]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomintroll#Moomintroll

The queer theory thing is an interesting hint. The comet in this fictional story shall be symbolic for the air raids of the Second World War. The comet in this fictional story only brings a night full of meteors and then fails to hit Earth. So I think that Moomintroll represents somebody, who is fearing something without reason. What is feared at least doesn’t become true. Moomintroll can reveal more when in aspect with other asteroids, that could be relevant for or connected to his story.

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