(14826) Nicollier Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 16 September 1985 by P. Wild at Zimmerwald.

Born in Vevey, Switzerland, Claude Nicollier (b. 1944) studied astronomy in Geneva and became the first European mission specialist of NASA. Astronomers owe him special thanks for his decisive part in the success of both servicing missions on the Hubble Space Telescope.Naming citation (20001013/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Nicollier is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsNicollierNicollier

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Nicollier is 3.58 au from the Sun and 4.54 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number14826
Provisional designation1985 SC1
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter11.6 km (#4,266 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0630
Absolute magnitude (H)13.69
Orbital period5.37 years
Semi-major axis3.07 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.25 – 3.89 au
Eccentricity0.267
Inclination2.33°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.24 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Claude

Also discovered on 16 September 1985

More named asteroids discovered by P. Wild