(22278) Protitch Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 September 1983 by H. Debehogne at La Silla.
Known for his work in celestial mechanics and fundamental astronomy, Milorad B. Protitch (1911-2001) was three times director of the Belgrade Observatory. He independently found comet C/1947 Y1 and discovered more than 30 minor planets. The name was suggested by his daughter, V. Protitch-Benishek.Naming citation (20011230/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Protitch is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Protitch is 3.00 au from the Sun and 3.99 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 22278 |
| Provisional designation | 1983 RT3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.90 km (#10,820 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.352 |
| Rotation period | 1.03 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.77 |
| Orbital period | 4.09 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.56 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.09 – 3.03 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.185 |
| Inclination | 11.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.12 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.