(24303) Michaelrice Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 December 1999 by C. W. Juels at Fountain Hills.
Michael L. Rice (b. 1943), an amateur astronomer since age 9, cofounded New Mexico Skies Observatory near Cloudcroft with his wife Lynn in 1998 after he retired from teaching finance at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Many have learned advanced observing and CCD imaging techniques under his excellent tutelage.Naming citation (20031110/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Michaelrice is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Michaelrice is 2.17 au from the Sun and 2.27 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 24303 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 YY |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.6 |
| Orbital period | 3.47 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.29 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.175 |
| Inclination | 6.21° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.896 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
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- (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