(9179) Satchmo Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 13 March 1991 by Oak Ridge Observatory at Harvard.

Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (1901–1971), born in poverty in New Orleans, received his first musical training at reform school at the age of 14. His innumerable contributions to jazz as a trumpeter and vocalist began around 1922. His nickname is short for “Satchel Mouth”. The name was suggested by M. Lohmiller.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #21, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

🐶 Satchmo as a dog name

Where Satchmo is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Satchmo is 3.31 au from the Sun and 4.13 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	9179
Provisional designation	1991 EM1
Orbit class	Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter	8.94 km (#5,802 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.168
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.25
Orbital period	5.15 years
Semi-major axis	2.98 au
Perihelion – aphelion	2.63 – 3.34 au
Eccentricity	0.118
Inclination	11.1°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	1.63 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 13 March 1991

(7940) Erichmeyer

More named asteroids discovered by Oak Ridge Observatory

All 28

← (9178) Momoyo · (9180) Samsagan →