(7656) Joemontani Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 April 1992 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Named in honor of Joseph L. Montani (b. 1952), instrumentalist, optics expert and observer with the Spacewatch project of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. While making observations for Spacewatch he discovered comets P/1997 G1, C/1997 G2 and C/1998 M6 and more than 16 near-Earth objects. Prior to joining the Spacewatch group, he made millimeter-wave observations of CO in the Magellanic Clouds, Orion and Monoceros, did high-resolution infrared spectroscopy of solar-system objects from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory and made a laboratory study of volatiles in asteroidal surface minerals.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #28, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Joemontani is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Joemontani is 3.26 au from the Sun and 2.92 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7656 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 HX |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.02 |
| Orbital period | 5.30 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.04 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.43 – 3.65 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.200 |
| Inclination | 1.51° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.42 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Joseph
- (2157) Ashbrook
- (4225) Hobart
- (5034) Joeharrington
- (5577) Priestley
- (5883) Josephblack
- (6540) Stepling
- (6743) Liu
- (8023) Josephwalker
- (8255) Masiero
- (8661) Ratzinger
- (8794) Joepatterson
- (9413) Eichendorff
All asteroids named after someone called Joseph