(8977) Paludicola Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Named for Acrocephalus paludicola, or aquatic warbler.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #8, 8), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Paludicola is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsPaludicolaPaludicola

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Paludicola is 1.95 au from the Sun and 2.15 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number8977
Provisional designation4272 T-2
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Absolute magnitude (H)15.28
Orbital period3.26 years
Semi-major axis2.20 au
Perihelion – aphelion1.94 – 2.46 au
Eccentricity0.117
Inclination2.59°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)0.959 au

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

Also discovered on 29 September 1973

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.