(4923) Clarke Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.

Named in honor of Arthur C. Clarke (b. 1917), renowned author and visionary. His optimistic portrayal of the future and confidence in the human spirit are themes that pervade his writing. Clarke is best known for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was simultaneously developed into a landmark film. In his 1973 science fiction novel Rendezvous with Rama, Clarke describes the development of Project Spaceguard, a means for detecting and mitigating potentially hazardous objects in near-Earth space. In recognition of Clarke's foresight, the name Spaceguard was adopted in a 1992 NASA proposal to the U.S. Congress for a dedicated program to survey the NEO population, as well as in the international foundation established in Rome on 1996 Mar. 26. Citation prepared with assistance from R. P. Binzel. Name independently suggested by D. I. Steel.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #28, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

👶 Clarke as a baby name 🐶 Clarke as a dog name

Where Clarke is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Clarke is 2.22 au from the Sun and 1.42 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	4923
Provisional designation	1981 EO27
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	3.37 km (#14,303 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.366
Rotation period	3.14 hours
Spectral type	S
Absolute magnitude (H)	14.47
Orbital period	3.14 years
Semi-major axis	2.14 au
Perihelion – aphelion	1.71 – 2.58 au
Eccentricity	0.202
Inclination	6.67°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	0.709 au

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

Also named after someone called Arthur

All asteroids named after someone called Arthur

Also discovered on 2 March 1981

More named asteroids discovered by S. J. Bus

All 464

← (4922) Leshin · (4924) Hiltner →