(66939) Franscini Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 28 November 1999 by S. Sposetti at Gnosca.
Stefano Franscini (1796-1857), a member of the Ticino canton government in Switzerland, helped organize the public schools. In 1848, he was elected to the first federal council. He also played a key role in creating the polytechnic school in Zürich and the Swiss federal statistical office.Naming citation (20060219/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Franscini is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Franscini is 3.14 au from the Sun and 3.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 66939 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 WQ8 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.09 km (#10,455 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.156 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.55 |
| Orbital period | 5.11 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.97 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.76 – 3.17 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0693 |
| Inclination | 10.6° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.79 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Stefano
- (8943) Stefanozavka
- (9121) Stefanovalentini
- (9920) Bagnulo
- (11476) Stefanosimoni
- (19331) Stefanovitale
- (22354) Sposetti
- (35324) Orlandi
- (66250) Giovanardi
- (73872) Stefanoragazzi
- (78124) Cicalo
- (97069) Stek
- (113623) Stefanovoglino
All asteroids named after someone called Stefano
Also discovered on 28 November 1999
- (13437) Wellton-Persson
- (16110) Paganetti
- (17190) Retopezzoli
- (43087) Castegna
- (45027) Cosquer
- (47294) Blansky les
- (56329) Tarxien
- (70936) Kamen
- (70942) Vandanashiva
- (75223) Wupatki
- (97186) Tore