(9969) Braille Mars-crossing Asteroid

Discovered on 27 May 1992 by Helin, E. F., Lawrence, K. J. at Palomar.

Named in memory of Louis Braille (1809–1852), who invented the Braille language so that those who could not see could obtain knowledge and explore through the ‘written’ word. Likewise, this minor planet provides knowledge about our universe and its origins to the people of the earth who, through Deep Space 1, are also able to explore and discover what previously they could not ‘see’. Name proposed by the discoverers following a suggestion by Kerry Babcock through The Planetary Society's “Name That Asteroid” contest.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #11, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Braille is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Braille is 3.27 au from the Sun and 2.76 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	9969
Provisional designation	1992 KD
Orbit class	Mars-crossing Asteroid
Rotation period	226 hours
Spectral type	Q
Absolute magnitude (H)	16.02
Orbital period	3.58 years
Semi-major axis	2.34 au
Perihelion – aphelion	1.32 – 3.35 au
Eccentricity	0.434
Inclination	29.0°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	0.312 au

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

Also named after someone called Louis

All asteroids named after someone called Louis

More named asteroids discovered by Helin, E. F., Lawrence, K. J.

← (9968) Serpe · (9971) Ishihara →