(25601) Francopacini Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 1 January 2000 by Tombelli, M., Tesi, L. at San Marcello.
Franco Pacini (b. 1939), since 1978 director of Arcetri Observatory, was IAU president from 2000 to 2003. The author of hundreds of publications on massive stars and their evolution, in 1967 he predicted the existence of neutron stars, spectacularly confirmed a year later with the discovery of the first pulsars.Naming citation (20040928/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Francopacini is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Francopacini is 3.59 au from the Sun and 3.43 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 25601 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 AX2 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.04 |
| Orbital period | 5.85 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.25 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.82 – 3.68 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.133 |
| Inclination | 2.73° |
| 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 named after someone called Franco
- (7306) Panizon
- (9897) Malerba
- (10567) Francobressan
- (10573) Piani
- (14953) Bevilacqua
- (18122) Forestamartin
- (18556) Battiato
- (21685) Francomallia
- (300226) Francocanepari
All asteroids named after someone called Franco
Also discovered on 1 January 2000
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- (43193) Secinaro
- (45300) Thewrewk
- (47473) Lorenzopinna
- (67070) Rinaldi
- (75570) Jenowigner
- (80451) Alwoods