(78948) Pietrasanta Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 20 September 2003 by CINEOS at Campo Imperatore.
Pietrasanta is an Italian town of Roman origin in Tuscany in the foothills of the Apuan Alps. It grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone. The town is still home to over 50 marble workshops and bronze foundries.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #8, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pietrasanta is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pietrasanta is 3.24 au from the Sun and 4.20 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 78948 |
| Provisional designation | 2003 SM192 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.31 km (#8,494 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0640 |
| Rotation period | 37.9 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.96 |
| Orbital period | 5.17 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.99 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.75 – 3.24 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0822 |
| Inclination | 14.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.76 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 20 September 2003
- (240364) Kozmutza
- (242235) Marieskalova
- (287787) Karady
- (338578) Csapodyvera
- (390743) Telkesmaria
- (399565) Devenyanna
- (413233) Varkonyiagnes