(29457) Marcopolo Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 September 1997 by V. Goretti at Pianoro.
Marco Polo (1254-1324) was a Venetian explorer. He traveled overland to China and became an expert in the language and culture of the Far East. After 20 years he returned by sea and wrote Il Milione, the momentous account of his travels and discoveries, while in prison in Genoa.Naming citation (20020427/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Marcopolo is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Marcopolo is 2.62 au from the Sun and 3.62 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 29457 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 SO4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.21 |
| Orbital period | 3.78 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.43 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.95 – 2.90 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.195 |
| Inclination | 2.24° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.942 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Marco
- (7388) Marcomorelli
- (10149) Cavagna
- (10277) Micheli
- (10738) Marcoaldo
- (11951) Marcoschioppa
- (16250) Delbo
- (24818) Menichelli
- (31415) Fenucci
- (44005) Migliardi
- (49443) Marcobondi
- (50275) Marcocasalini
- (56361) Marcomontagni
All asteroids named after someone called Marco
Also discovered on 25 September 1997
- (15385) Dallolmo
- (15386) Nicolini
- (16802) Rainer
- (26971) Sezimovo Usti
- (27963) Hartkopf
- (31139) Garnavich
- (35356) Vondrak
- (37788) Suchan
- (44005) Migliardi