(46917) Rogercayrel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 September 1998 by ODAS at Caussols.
Roger Cayrel (1925–2021) was a French astronomer internationally recognised as a pioneer in the study of stellar atmospheres. He has provided outstanding contributions in theoretical astrophysics, as well as in the understanding of the oldest stars and chemical evolution of the Milky Way. He was the first director of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #3, 12), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Rogercayrel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Rogercayrel is 2.03 au from the Sun and 1.06 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 46917 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 SA |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.73 km (#15,786 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.410 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.64 |
| Orbital period | 4.02 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.53 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.92 – 3.14 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.242 |
| Inclination | 4.30° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.906 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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