(9897) Malerba Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 February 1996 by Tombelli, M., Munari, U. at Cima Ekar.
Franco Malerba (b. 1946), the first Italian astronaut, was a member of Space Mission STS-46 on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis during 1992 July 31--Aug. 8. He is working now on the development of new space activities.Naming citation (20000726/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Malerba is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Malerba is 2.51 au from the Sun and 3.47 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9897 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 CX7 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.07 km (#15,043 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.430 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.45 |
| Orbital period | 3.31 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.22 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.77 – 2.67 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.203 |
| Inclination | 6.37° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.772 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Franco
- (7306) Panizon
- (10567) Francobressan
- (10573) Piani
- (14953) Bevilacqua
- (18122) Forestamartin
- (18556) Battiato
- (21685) Francomallia
- (25601) Francopacini
- (300226) Francocanepari
All asteroids named after someone called Franco
Also discovered on 14 February 1996
- (7715) Leonidarosino
- (7847) Mattiaorsi
- (7900) Portule
- (9425) Marconcini
- (9426) Aliante
- (9427) Righini
- (10175) Aenona
- (10176) Gaiavettori
- (12811) Rigonistern
- (12812) Cioni
- (12813) Paolapaolini
- (13174) Timossi
More named asteroids discovered by Tombelli, M., Munari, U.
- (8925) Boattini
- (9425) Marconcini
- (9427) Righini
- (10176) Gaiavettori
- (10198) Pinelli
- (11348) Allegra
- (12033) Anselmo
- (12433) Barbieri
- (12812) Cioni
- (12813) Paolapaolini
- (12814) Vittorio
- (13174) Timossi
← (9893) Sagano · (9898) Yoshiro →