(7864) Borucki Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 14 March 1982 by A. Mrkos at Klet.

William Borucki (b. 1939) founded and developed the Kepler mission that led to the discovery of numerous exoplanetary systems and to significant contributions to stellar astrophysics and astroseismology of evolving stars. He also determined plasma properties of hypervelocity shock waves that were used in the heat shield of the Apollo missions.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2020-11-17), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Borucki is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsBoruckiBorucki

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Borucki is 2.62 au from the Sun and 3.55 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number7864
Provisional designation1982 EE
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter15.3 km (#3,080 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0530
Absolute magnitude (H)13.06
Orbital period4.44 years
Semi-major axis2.70 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.58 – 2.82 au
Eccentricity0.0449
Inclination9.37°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.60 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called William

More named asteroids discovered by A. Mrkos