(21291) Mercalli Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 November 1996 by Boattini, A., Pedichini, F. at Campo Imperatore.
Luca Mercalli (b. 1966) is an Italian meteorologist, climatologist and science communicator. He is committed to disseminating a lifestyle aimed at mitigating global warming. He is president of the Società Meteorologica Italiana.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #17, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mercalli is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mercalli is 2.26 au from the Sun and 3.26 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 21291 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 VG6 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.8 |
| Orbital period | 3.59 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.34 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.24 – 2.45 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0460 |
| Inclination | 7.30° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.26 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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