(21463) Nickerson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 21 April 1998 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Laura Nickerson mentored a finalist in the 2005 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. She teaches at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, Illinois.Naming citation (20050224/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Nickerson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Nickerson is 2.58 au from the Sun and 2.16 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 21463 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 HX78 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.61 km (#16,030 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.374 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.86 |
| Orbital period | 3.77 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.42 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.16 – 2.69 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.110 |
| Inclination | 4.91° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.14 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Laura
- (13001) Woodney
- (15742) Laurabassi
- (18128) Wysner
- (18709) Laurawong
- (20475) Lauraparro
- (20642) Laurajohnson
- (20814) Laurajones
- (20870) Kaningher
- (28677) Laurakowalski
- (33400) Laurapierson
- (34365) Laurareilly
- (52570) Lauraco
All asteroids named after someone called Laura
Also discovered on 21 April 1998
- (9244) Visnjan
- (11715) Harperclark
- (11716) Amahartman
- (11718) Hayward
- (11719) Hicklen
- (11720) Horodyskyj
- (11721) Shawnlowe
- (11724) Ronaldhsu
- (11725) Victoriahsu
- (12091) Jesmalmquist
- (12092) Erinorourke
- (12093) Chrimatthews