(9180) Samsagan Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 April 1991 by E. F. Helin at Palomar.
The son of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, Samuel Democritus Druyan Sagan (b. 1991) is inspired by the beauty and power of words. He hopes to become a writer. Family and friends recognize his kind ways and concern for others.Naming citation (20020328/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Samsagan is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Samsagan is 3.26 au from the Sun and 3.31 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9180 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 GQ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 16.1 km (#2,874 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0680 |
| Rotation period | 6.80 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.7 |
| Orbital period | 5.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.18 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.00 – 3.37 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0579 |
| Inclination | 15.8° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.01 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Carl
- (2044) Wirt
- (3360) Syrinx
- (5493) Spitzweg
- (6058) Carlnielsen
- (6175) Cori
- (7414) Bosch
- (7911) Carlpilcher
- (7973) Koppeschaar
- (8058) Zuckmayer
- (8268) Goerdeler
- (8677) Charlier
- (9248) Sauer
All asteroids named after someone called Carl
Also discovered on 8 April 1991
- (6487) Tonyspear
- (6647) Josse
- (6912) Grimm
- (7126) Cureau
- (7179) Gassendi
- (8277) Machu-Picchu
- (8369) Miyata
- (8665) Daun-Eifel
- (8852) Buxus
- (9339) Kimnovak
- (9592) Clairaut
- (9757) Felixdejager
More named asteroids discovered by E. F. Helin
- (1982) Cline
- (2048) Dwornik
- (2050) Francis
- (2062) Aten
- (2074) Shoemaker
- (2083) Smither
- (2099) Opik
- (2100) Ra-Shalom
- (2128) Wetherill
- (2143) Jimarnold
- (2220) Hicks
- (2335) James
← (9179) Satchmo · (9184) Vasilij →