(6943) Moretto Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 November 1978 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J. at Palomar.
Italian painter Moretto (Alessandro Bonvicino, 1498--1554) is recognized as one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance and produced fine altarpieces and religious works. His works are exhibited all over the world, including at the National Gallery of London.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2017-06-09), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Moretto is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Moretto is 2.40 au from the Sun and 2.08 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6943 |
| Provisional designation | 1978 VR4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.06 km (#12,597 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.269 |
| Rotation period | 2.82 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.08 |
| Orbital period | 3.26 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.20 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.95 – 2.45 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.115 |
| Inclination | 4.10° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.966 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alessandro
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- (16683) Alepieri
- (20056) Roccati
- (25276) Dimai
- (48842) Alexmazzanti
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- (70745) Aleserpieri
All asteroids named after someone called Alessandro
Also discovered on 7 November 1978
- (2324) Janice
- (2440) Educatio
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- (2611) Boyce
- (2725) David Bender
- (2925) Beatty
- (3240) Laocoon
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- (3926) Ramirez
- (4012) Geballe