(8216) Melosh Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 March 1995 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
H. Jay Melosh (b. 1947), of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, has worked on the formation of impact craters on the terrestrial planets and the “giant impact” origin of the moon. His “Panspermia” idea involves the ejection by impact of spall products containing microorganisms and their transfer to other planets.Naming citation (20000124/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Melosh is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Melosh is 2.86 au from the Sun and 3.15 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8216 |
| Provisional designation | 1995 FX14 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.09 |
| Orbital period | 4.10 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.56 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.00 – 3.12 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.219 |
| Inclination | 4.26° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.995 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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