(6743) Liu Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 April 1994 by Endate, K., Watanabe, K. at Kitami.
Named in honor of Joseph H. C. Liu (b. 1931), who played a leading role in establishing the Hong Kong Space Museum and who became its first chief curator. In 1982 he received the Chiro Astronomical Award in Japan, and in 1984 he became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, both for his promotion of popular astronomy in Hong Kong. Well known as an astrophotographer, he now lives in California. Name proposed by the discoverers following a suggestion by A. Fujii and T. Sato.Naming citation (19980411/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
👶 Liu as a baby name🐶 Liu as a dog name
Where Liu is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Liu is 2.64 au from the Sun and 2.98 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6743 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 GS |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.30 km (#10,044 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.274 |
| Rotation period | 7.36 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.64 |
| Orbital period | 3.34 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.24 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.77 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.207 |
| Inclination | 8.12° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.761 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
- (7656) Joemontani
- (8023) Josephwalker
- (8255) Masiero
- (8661) Ratzinger
- (8794) Joepatterson
- (9413) Eichendorff
All asteroids named after someone called Joseph
Also discovered on 8 April 1994
- (6742) Biandepei
- (8204) Takabatake
- (10569) Kinoshitamasao
- (10570) Shibayasuo
- (15805) Murakamitakehiko
- (30944) Hiruma