(69977) Saurodonati Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 28 November 1998 by Mazzoni, E., Ziboli, M. at Monte Agliale.
Italian amateur astronomer and writer Sauro Donati (b. 1959) discovered the first minor planet from Lucca in 1998. Now he manages a private observatory and has discovered about 20 minor planets. Also a popularizer of astronomy, he is engaged in the planning of the first planetarium in Lucca.Naming citation (20041126/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Saurodonati is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Saurodonati is 3.02 au from the Sun and 2.21 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 69977 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 WL9 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.95 km (#7,717 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0700 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.6 |
| Orbital period | 5.63 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.16 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.62 – 3.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.170 |
| Inclination | 4.39° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.64 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.