(8331) Dawkins Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 May 1982 by Shoemaker, C. S., Bus, S. J. at Palomar.
Richard Dawkins (b. 1941), chaired professor at Oxford University, is the author of the seminal work The Selfish Gene (1976) and other best-selling books on science and evolution. His novel concept of the ethology of genes revolutionized the study of evolution and animal behavior. He is the husband of actress Lalla Ward.Naming citation (20001013/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Dawkins is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Dawkins is 2.24 au from the Sun and 3.21 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8331 |
| Provisional designation | 1982 KK1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.77 km (#11,079 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.258 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.99 |
| Orbital period | 3.43 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.05 – 2.50 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0985 |
| Inclination | 4.97° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Richard
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- (4252) Godwin
- (5391) Emmons
- (5567) Durisen
- (6368) Richardmenendez
- (6893) Sanderson
- (7392) Kowalski
- (7845) Mckim
- (7966) Richardbaum
- (8717) Richviktorov
- (9725) Wainscoat
- (9882) Stallman
All asteroids named after someone called Richard