(9722) Levi-Montalcini Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 March 1981 by Debehogne, H., De Sanctis, G. at La Silla.
In 1952 Italian neurologist Rita Levi-Montalcini (b. 1909) discovered the Nerve Growth Factor, the protein responsible for the nervous system cell proliferation. Winner of the 1986 Nobel prize for Medicine, she promotes programs for educating women in developing countries.Naming citation (20100130/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Levi-Montalcini is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Levi-Montalcini is 2.64 au from the Sun and 3.42 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9722 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 EZ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.89 |
| Orbital period | 3.73 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.41 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.98 – 2.83 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.177 |
| Inclination | 1.24° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.998 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Rita
- (8640) Ritaschulz
- (15145) Ritageorge
- (52426) Ritaalessandro
- (84417) Ritabo
- (87644) Cathomen
- (181136) Losonczrita
All asteroids named after someone called Rita
Also discovered on 4 March 1981
More named asteroids discovered by Debehogne, H., De Sanctis, G.
- (2461) Clavel
- (2765) Dinant
- (2788) Andenne
- (2958) Arpetito
- (3016) Meuse
- (3121) Tamines
- (3235) Melchior
- (3268) De Sanctis
- (3308) Ferreri
- (3610) Decampos
- (3740) Menge
- (4192) Breysacher
← (9721) Doty · (9723) Binyang →