(4148) McCartney Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 11 July 1983 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.

Named in honor of Paul McCartney (1942– ), musician and ex-Beatle. A talented composer, he was responsible for some of The Beatles' best loved songs–both “Yesterday” and “Michelle” have become classics of the popular repertoire, and have each been covered by several hundred artists. Paul was instrumental in the setting up of the Apple Corps, a philanthropic organization that helped to launch the careers of several young musicians. Paul was the only member of The Beatles to continue regular live performances after the group split up in 1970. He is still a popular performer, and many of his solo recordings have topped the charts around the world.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #12, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where McCartney is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: McCartney is 2.18 au from the Sun and 2.83 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	4148
Provisional designation	1983 NT
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	7.25 km (#7,363 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.306
Rotation period	20.7 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.96
Orbital period	3.36 years
Semi-major axis	2.24 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.03 – 2.46 au
Eccentricity	0.0971
Inclination	5.20°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.03 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Paul

All asteroids named after someone called Paul

Also discovered on 11 July 1983

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All 554

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