(244932) Melies Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 15 December 2003 by B. Christophe at Saint-Sulpice.

Georges Méliès (1861–1938) was a French film maker and pioneer of science-fiction movies, best known for his 1902 film Le voyage dans la lune.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 9), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Melies is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsMeliesMelies

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Melies is 2.40 au from the Sun and 1.97 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number244932
Provisional designation2003 XW21
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Absolute magnitude (H)16.58
Orbital period4.58 years
Semi-major axis2.76 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.36 – 3.16 au
Eccentricity0.145
Inclination1.53°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.37 au

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

Also named after someone called Georges

Also discovered on 15 December 2003

More named asteroids discovered by B. Christophe