(24856) Messidoro Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 January 1996 by Tombelli, M., Casacci, C. at Cima Ekar.
Piero Messidoro (b. 1950) is an Italian space engineer who has developed projects and technologies in human and robotic space exploration, notably the International Space Station, new generation transportation systems and moon and Mars missions. He gives international lectures on space exploration system engineering.Naming citation (20100130/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Messidoro is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Messidoro is 2.32 au from the Sun and 1.43 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 24856 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 AA4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.47 km (#11,694 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0670 |
| Rotation period | 2.39 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.36 |
| Orbital period | 4.49 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.72 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.06 – 3.38 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.244 |
| Inclination | 8.85° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.09 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Piero
- (5727) Pierobenvenuti
- (7866) Sicoli
- (11605) Ranfagni
- (18079) Lion-Stoppato
- (20451) Galeotti
- (44574) Lavoratti
- (46720) Pierostroppa
- (61195) Martinoli
- (288615) Tempesti
All asteroids named after someone called Piero
Also discovered on 15 January 1996
- (7794) Sanvito
- (12433) Barbieri
- (14057) Manfredstoll
- (14947) Luigibussolino
- (23608) Alpiapuane
- (24857) Sperello
- (69423) Openuni