(861969) Elliottsmith Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 31 July 2014 by Pan-STARRS 1 at Haleakala.
Steven Paul “Elliott” Smith (1969–2003) was an influential, Oscar-nominated American songwriter. His intricate music left a lasting impact on many musicians. Asteroid 861969 honors his birth date, August 6, 1969. Smith often used celestial motifs in his work, notably in the song “Shooting Star”, which, in hindsight, symbolizes his brief but brilliant light.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #9, 20), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Elliottsmith is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Elliottsmith is 2.97 au from the Sun and 2.78 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 861969 |
| Provisional designation | 2014 OS439 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.53 |
| Orbital period | 5.32 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.05 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.65 – 3.44 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.130 |
| Inclination | 12.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.65 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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