(15006) Samcristoforetti Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 February 1998 by Forti, G., Tombelli, M. at Cima Ekar.
Samantha Cristoforetti (b. 1977) became the first Italian female astronaut on 2014 Nov. 23, performing a set of science experiments onboard the International Space Station.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2015-01-05), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Samcristoforetti is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Samcristoforetti is 3.11 au from the Sun and 3.98 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15006 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 DZ32 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.27 km (#10,104 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.334 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.56 |
| Orbital period | 5.65 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.06 – 3.28 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0338 |
| Inclination | 12.8° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.08 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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