(15609) Kosmaczewski Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 7 April 2000 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Named in honor of Sara G. Kosmaczewski for achievement as a finalist in the 2001 Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC), a middle school science competition. Sara is a student at the St. Rita School, Hamden, Connecticut.Naming citation (20011002/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Kosmaczewski is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Kosmaczewski is 2.86 au from the Sun and 3.49 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15609 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 GP124 |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.74 km (#11,136 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0690 |
| Rotation period | 5.22 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.62 |
| Orbital period | 3.43 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.62 – 2.93 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.289 |
| Inclination | 6.74° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.602 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Sara
- (9279) Seager
- (18680) Weirather
- (20355) Saraclark
- (28450) Saravolz
- (29681) Saramanshad
- (29895) Sarafaggi
- (30057) Sarasakowitz
- (33603) Saramason
- (33714) Sarakaufman
- (65091) Saramagrin
- (78125) Salimbeni
- (121469) Sarahaugh
All asteroids named after someone called Sara
Also discovered on 7 April 2000
- (15599) Richardlarson
- (15603) Kimyoonji
- (15604) Fruits
- (15608) Owens
- (15611) Leejoonyoung
- (15612) Parkmincheol
- (15614) Pillinger
- (16238) Chappe
- (16239) Dower
- (16241) Dvorsky
- (16242) Licato
- (16245) Katielu