(15339) Pierazzo Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 January 1994 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Elisabetta Pierazzo (1963-2011) was an expert in impact modeling, in particular of the Chicxulub impact, as well as in modeling the effects of impacts on Earth and Mars. She was an enthusiastic communicator of science to the general public and a dedicated teacher of planetary science for students and educators.Naming citation (20110715/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pierazzo is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pierazzo is 2.87 au from the Sun and 3.04 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15339 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 AA9 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.95 km (#10,711 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.315 |
| Rotation period | 5.61 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.75 |
| Orbital period | 5.01 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.93 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.68 – 3.17 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0839 |
| Inclination | 3.10° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.68 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Elisabetta
All asteroids named after someone called Elisabetta