(8945) Cavaradossi Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 1 February 1997 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Named for a character in Puccini's opera Tosca. Cavaradossi, a revolutionary and fighter against despotism, is imprisoned and condemned to die. While awaiting execution, he sings the nostalgic aria “E lucevan le stelle”, recalling the sweet times he had with his mistress Tosca and bemoaning his impending death. Meanwhile, Tosca tries to gain his release by bargaining with the lecherous chief of police Scarpia. They double-cross each other, and everyone dies a violent death.Naming citation (19981005/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Cavaradossi is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Cavaradossi is 3.37 au from the Sun and 3.16 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8945 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 CM |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.74 km (#5,963 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.133 |
| Rotation period | 13.2 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.2 |
| Orbital period | 5.44 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.09 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.81 – 3.38 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0912 |
| Inclination | 11.9° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.83 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 1 February 1997
- (8424) Toshitsumita
- (8946) Yoshimitsu
- (9233) Itagijun
- (9432) Iba
- (12035) Ruggieri
- (13196) Rogerssmith
- (15376) Martak
- (23648) Kolar
- (23649) Tohoku