48346

48346 is a minor planet orbiting the Sun in the central region of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 12 March 1991 by the LINEAR survey at the White Sands Missile Range near Socorro, New Mexico, and was provisionally designated 1991 DF. The discovery observation was performed in the optical band using a CCD camera, and the asteroid was subsequently confirmed and given the permanent number 48346 by the Minor Planet Center.

The orbit of 48346 has a semi‑major axis of approximately 2.53 astronomical units, an orbital period of about 4.0 years, and a moderate eccentricity of 0.12. Its orbital inclination relative to the ecliptic plane is about 7°. These elements place it in the middle asteroid belt, where it travels between roughly 2.2 AU at perihelion and 2.8 AU at aphelion. The object's mean motion around the Sun is consistent with a typical S‑type (stony) composition. Photometric observations indicate a rotation period of roughly 6.3 hours, although detailed shape modeling requires further data.

Based on its absolute magnitude of 14.4, radar and thermal infrared measurements suggest a diameter in the range of 3–4 kilometers, with a geometric albedo near 0.20. No spacecraft encounters or significant perturbations have been reported, and 48346's orbit remains stable over long time scales. The asteroid has not been named; it remains simply referenced by its numerical designation within the catalog of main‑belt asteroids.