(16961) Mullahy Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 August 1998 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Matthew Mullahy (b. 2001) was awarded second place in the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his behavioral and social sciences project. He attended the Smithtown High School East, St. James, New York, U.S.A.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #7, 9), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mullahy is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mullahy is 2.62 au from the Sun and 3.59 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 16961 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 QV73 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.77 km (#9,276 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.211 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.72 |
| Orbital period | 4.31 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.65 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.17 – 3.13 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.182 |
| Inclination | 14.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.20 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Matthew
- (6626) Mattgenge
- (8998) Matthewizawa
- (10156) Darnley
- (11743) Jachowski
- (12207) Matthewbeasley
- (12983) Mattcox
- (12985) Mattgarrison
- (13750) Mattdawson
- (15030) Matthewkroll
- (17281) Mattblythe
- (18755) Meduna
- (19763) Klimesh
All asteroids named after someone called Matthew
Also discovered on 24 August 1998
- (9808) Navamijain
- (15008) Delahodde
- (15009) Johnwheeler
- (18737) Aliciaworley
- (20405) Barryburke
- (20411) Jooyeongeem
- (20412) Josemariamadiedo
- (21554) Leechaohsi
- (21555) Levary
- (21556) Christineli
- (21557) Daniellitt
- (21558) Alisonliu