(8333) Medina Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 November 1982 by A. Mrkos at Klet.
Francisco Medina (b. 1952) co-led at ESA an international life science and plant biology project on the ISS. This lead to discoveries on multiple light sensory systems in plants, which set the stage for upcoming missions addressing the use of plants in bio-regenerative life support systems for future manned missions.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2020-11-17), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
👶 Medina as a baby name🐶 Medina as a dog name
Where Medina is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Medina is 2.54 au from the Sun and 3.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8333 |
| Provisional designation | 1982 VF |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Spectral type | Sq |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.97 |
| Orbital period | 4.53 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.74 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.44 – 3.04 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.109 |
| Inclination | 8.65° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.44 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Francisco
- (8127) Beuf
- (28864) Franciscocordova
- (29220) Xavierbaptista
- (125476) Frangarcia
- (142755) Castander
- (296587) Ocana
- (667514) Pozonunez
- (752263) Franciscosanchez
All asteroids named after someone called Francisco