(8461) Sammiepung Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.
Sammie J. Pung (b. 1958) is a mechanical technician for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. As part of the IRTF summit day crew since 1982, he has worked to ensure that the telescope, dome and supporting mechanical systems are maintained and operational.Naming citation (20120506/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Sammiepung is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sammiepung is 2.72 au from the Sun and 2.07 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8461 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 EC21 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.85 |
| Orbital period | 4.32 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.65 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.21 – 3.10 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.168 |
| Inclination | 4.91° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.23 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 2 March 1981
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- (2919) Dali
- (2980) Cameron
- (2981) Chagall
- (2990) Trimberger
- (3000) Leonardo
- (3121) Tamines
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- (3207) Spinrad
- (3252) Johnny
- (3304) Pearce
- (3524) Schulz