(21306) Marani Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 1 December 1996 by V. Goretti at Pianoro.
Giorgio “Doddo” Marani (1925-2000) was a longstanding friend of the discoverer. He was an accomplished mechanic who worked, together with the team of San Vittore Observatory in Bologna, on the construction of a number of measuring instruments.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #21, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Marani is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Marani is 3.17 au from the Sun and 4.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 21306 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 XF2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.94 km (#6,638 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0850 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.15 |
| Orbital period | 4.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.78 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.37 – 3.19 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.148 |
| Inclination | 14.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.38 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.