(9217) Kitagawa Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 November 1995 by T. Kobayashi at Oizumi.
Ryuji Kitagawa (1949-2009) was a professor at Hiroshima University. From his research of clay mineralogy, he clarified the mechanism of weathering of granite and generation of landslide and slope failure. In addition to his own research, he mentored many other scientists.Naming citation (20100330/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Kitagawa is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kitagawa is 2.06 au from the Sun and 2.36 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9217 |
| Provisional designation | 1995 WN |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.33 km (#16,542 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.296 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.47 |
| Orbital period | 3.55 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.33 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.96 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.159 |
| Inclination | 4.65° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.951 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ryuji
All asteroids named after someone called Ryuji
Also discovered on 16 November 1995
- (6804) Maruseppu
- (8720) Takamizawa
- (8905) Bankakuko
- (9093) Sorada
- (9094) Butsuen
- (11111) Repunit
- (12796) Kamenrider
- (21234) Nakashima
- (73819) Isaootuki
- (136743) Echigo