(7780) Maren Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 July 1993 by Helin, E. F., Child, J. B. at Palomar.
Named in honor of Maren Elizabeth Child, contemporary paragon of compassion, generosity and patience. Her unselfish devotion to family, friends and community is, fortunately, more frequently observed than is this minor planet that now bears her name. Her support and understanding of the sometimes bizarre demands of her partner's minor planet observing schedules can only be interpreted as an equally serious commitment to astronomy.Naming citation (19990728/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Maren is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Maren is 2.73 au from the Sun and 1.74 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7780 |
| Provisional designation | 1993 NJ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.66 km (#9,478 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.200 |
| Rotation period | 22.3 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.88 |
| Orbital period | 4.03 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.53 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.19 – 2.88 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.137 |
| Inclination | 11.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.19 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.