(24643) MacCready Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 28 September 1984 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M. at Palomar.
Paul MacCready (b. 1933) designed the first human-powered aircraft, the Gossamer Condor, followed by the Gossamer Albatross, which was pedaled through the air to cross the English Channel in 1979. The Gossamer Penguin, the world's first solar airplane and the Solar Challenger were next.Naming citation (20020921/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where MacCready is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: MacCready is 1.78 au from the Sun and 2.16 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 24643 |
| Provisional designation | 1984 SS |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Rotation period | 2.83 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.02 |
| Orbital period | 3.54 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.32 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.63 – 3.01 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.296 |
| Inclination | 23.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.746 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Paul
- (3743) Pauljaniczek
- (4148) McCartney
- (4194) Sweitzer
- (5065) Johnstone
- (5553) Chodas
- (5997) Dirac
- (6226) Paulwarren
- (6384) Kervin
- (6629) Kurtz
- (6726) Suthers
- (6870) Pauldavies
- (7560) Spudis
All asteroids named after someone called Paul
Also discovered on 28 September 1984
- (3153) Lincoln
- (3154) Grant
- (3155) Lee
- (3706) Sinnott
- (5945) Roachapproach
- (7393) Luginbuhl
- (8147) Colemanhawkins
- (11831) Chaple
- (35056) Cullers
More named asteroids discovered by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M.
- (3025) Higson
- (3199) Nefertiti
- (3225) Hoag
- (3317) Paris
- (3554) Amun
- (3671) Dionysus
- (3700) Geowilliams
- (3854) George
- (3880) Kaiserman
- (3927) Feliciaplatt
- (3977) Maxine
- (4151) Alanhale
← (24641) Enver · (24645) Segon →