(4243) Nankivell Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 April 1981 by Gilmore, A. C., Kilmartin, P. M. at Lake Tekapo.
Garry R. Nankivell (b. 1929) is New Zealand's preeminent optical craftsman. Among his many productions are the optics for Mt. John Observatory's 1-m f/8–f/13 McLellan Telescope. He has collaborated with Norman Rumsey on many innovative optical designs.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #10, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Nankivell is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Nankivell is 3.06 au from the Sun and 2.76 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 4243 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 GF1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 18.1 km (#2,485 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0493 |
| Rotation period | 7.17 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.84 |
| Orbital period | 5.27 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.03 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.68 – 3.37 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.114 |
| Inclination | 9.00° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.67 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.