(9721) Doty Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 April 1980 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.
Arthur G. Doty (1951-1999) was a lifelong amateur astronomer whose passion inspired a continuing interest in astronomy in his family and friends. The name was suggested by N. Carlson and N. Adams.Naming citation (20010509/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Doty is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Doty is 2.49 au from the Sun and 1.64 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9721 |
| Provisional designation | 1980 GB |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.91 km (#12,961 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.348 |
| Rotation period | 3.78 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.07 |
| Orbital period | 3.43 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.04 – 2.51 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.104 |
| Inclination | 8.33° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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