(29401) Asterix Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 1 October 1996 by Tichy, M., Moravec, Z. at Klet.
Astérix is the hero of the cartoon series Les aventures d'Astérix by Uderzo and Goscinny. A shrewd, cunning little warrior, he is entrusted with all perilous missions. Astérix gets his superhuman strength from the magic potion brewed by the druids.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #10, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Asterix is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Asterix is 2.95 au from the Sun and 3.45 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 29401 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 TE |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.45 km (#14,095 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.339 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.49 |
| Orbital period | 4.76 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.83 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.57 – 3.09 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0902 |
| Inclination | 2.88° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.57 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.