(9621) Michaelpalin Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 21 March 1993 by UESAC at La Silla.
Michael Palin (b. 1943) is a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus. His sketch with the parrot will never be forgotten. He has also written several books for children and undertaken world travelogues for television.Naming citation (20000320/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Michaelpalin is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Michaelpalin is 1.95 au from the Sun and 2.44 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9621 |
| Provisional designation | 1993 FT26 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.63 km (#13,625 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.176 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.66 |
| Orbital period | 3.41 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.26 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 2.64 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.167 |
| Inclination | 3.69° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.903 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
- (3192) A'Hearn
- (4477) Kelley
- (4599) Rowan
- (5373) Michaelkurtz
- (5554) Keesey
- (5569) Colby
- (6406) Mikejura
- (6569) Ondaatje
- (7738) Heyman
- (7936) Mikemagee
- (8032) Michaeladams
- (8129) Michaelbusch
All asteroids named after someone called Michael
Also discovered on 21 March 1993
- (5630) Billschaefer
- (6102) Visby
- (6528) Boden
- (6796) Sundsvall
- (6797) Ostersund
- (7595) Vaxjo
- (7831) Francois-Xavier
- (8535) Pellesvanslos
- (8536) Mans
- (8537) Billochbull
- (8538) Gammelmaja
- (8697) Olofsson