(18556) Battiato Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 February 1997 by Sicoli, P., Manca, F. at Sormano.
Franco Battiato (b. 1945), Sicilian polyhedric artist, is an honorary member of the Associazione Astrofili Ionico-Etnei. He turns his feelings into music, painting and cinema. Through the telescope he observes the Universe, deriving inspiration for his songs.Naming citation (20040107/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Battiato is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Battiato is 3.02 au from the Sun and 2.35 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 18556 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 CC7 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.23 km (#8,599 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.181 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.84 |
| Orbital period | 5.34 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.06 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.00 – 3.11 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0171 |
| Inclination | 10.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.99 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Franco
- (7306) Panizon
- (9897) Malerba
- (10567) Francobressan
- (10573) Piani
- (14953) Bevilacqua
- (18122) Forestamartin
- (21685) Francomallia
- (25601) Francopacini
- (300226) Francocanepari
All asteroids named after someone called Franco
Also discovered on 7 February 1997
- (11652) Johnbrownlee
- (12835) Stropek
- (15882) Dingzhong
- (16797) Wilkerson
- (23650) Cvancara
- (43954) Chynov
- (43956) Elidoro
- (43957) Invernizzi
- (46701) Interrante