(31848) Mikemattei Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 March 2000 by CSS at Catalina.
Michael Mattei (b. 1940) worked at Harvard College Observatory Agassiz Station as a young man moving to optics with various institutions and companies culminating in his work with M.I.T. Lincoln Labs working on projects from microscope optics to space telescopes.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2017-10-05), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mikemattei is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mikemattei is 2.31 au from the Sun and 2.82 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 31848 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 EM21 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.70 km (#8,002 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0900 |
| Rotation period | 5.11 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.65 |
| Orbital period | 3.72 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.40 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.00 – 2.81 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.168 |
| Inclination | 13.4° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.01 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
Also discovered on 3 March 2000
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- (26592) Maryrenfro
- (26593) Perrypat
- (27365) Henryfitz
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- (27423) Dennisbowers
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- (28543) Solis-Gozar