(8816) Gamow Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 December 1984 by L. G. Karachkina at Nauchnyj.
Named in memory of the scientist George (Georgij Antonovich) Gamow (1904-1968). His main scientific achievements include the creation of alpha and beta decay theory and the theory of the exploding Universe. Gamow was also the first to decipher the genetic code. He worked at institutions around the world, in Odessa, Leningrad, Göttingen, Copenhagen, Cambridge, as well as in the U.S. Through his popular lectures, articles and books he promoted public interest in science. In 1956 he received the Calling Prize awarded by UNESCO for the popularization of science. Name suggested by S. P. Kapitza and supported by the discoverer.Naming citation (19990402/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gamow is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gamow is 2.01 au from the Sun and 1.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8816 |
| Provisional designation | 1984 YN1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.13 |
| Orbital period | 3.85 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.46 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.99 – 2.92 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.189 |
| Inclination | 3.10° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.995 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.