(244888) Bunton Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 19 November 2003 by J. Bedient J. Pittichová at Maunakea.

George W. Bunton, Jr. (1910–1995) was an American astronomer. Known for his work in public education at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco, he was manager of the Bishop Museum Planetarium in Honolulu from 1962 until his retirement in 1980. George educated and inspired thousands of all ages.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #3, 11), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Bunton is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsBuntonBunton

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Bunton is 2.43 au from the Sun and 2.91 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number244888
Provisional designation2003 WC13
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Absolute magnitude (H)16.68
Orbital period4.03 years
Semi-major axis2.53 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.35 – 2.71 au
Eccentricity0.0713
Inclination7.20°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.35 au

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

Also named after someone called George

Also discovered on 19 November 2003