(12722) Petrarca Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 August 1991 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) was an Italian poet famous for his Sonnets (1327-1374), which were dedicated to his muse, Laura. He was born in Arezzo and died in the Euganean Hills. Petrarca may be regarded as one of the greatest scholars of his age. His critical spirit made him the founder of Renaissance humanism.Naming citation (20010309/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Petrarca is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Petrarca is 2.30 au from the Sun and 1.89 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12722 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 PT1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.40 km (#11,832 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0940 |
| Rotation period | 3.54 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.96 |
| Orbital period | 3.51 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.31 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.97 – 2.65 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.145 |
| Inclination | 3.34° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.966 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Francesco
- (6892) Lana
- (7640) Marzari
- (7918) Berrilli
- (8266) Bertelli
- (9934) Caccioppoli
- (10875) Veracini
- (15460) Manca
- (18102) Angrilli
- (18583) Francescopedani
- (20103) de Vico
- (20353) Gianotto
- (20752) Topputo
All asteroids named after someone called Francesco