(1955) McMath Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 22 September 1963 by Indiana University at Brooklyn.

Named in memory of Robert R. McMath (1891-1962), astronomer, engineer and businessman. Co-donor of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory to the University of Michigan in 1931, he served as its director during 1931-1961. He was an adviser to the National Science Foundation in its early years and chaired the panel that advised NSF on the need for a national observatory and conducted the site survey leading to the selection of Kitt Peak. He played a leading role in the incorporation of AURA, served as its first president (1957-1958) and then as chairman of the AURA board. Name proposed by F. K. Edmondson.Naming citation (MPC 5848), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where McMath is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: McMath is 2.68 au from the Sun and 1.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	1955
Provisional designation	1963 SR
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	9.76 km (#5,245 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.322
Rotation period	5.57 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)	12.14
Orbital period	4.82 years
Semi-major axis	2.85 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.68 – 3.03 au
Eccentricity	0.0608
Inclination	1.00°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.69 au

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

Also named after someone called Robert

All asteroids named after someone called Robert

Also discovered on 22 September 1963

(2007) McCuskey

More named asteroids discovered by Indiana University

All 119

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