(21962) Scottsandford Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 9 November 1999 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Astronomer and meteoriticist Scott Alan Sandford (b. 1957), a researcher at NASA's Ames Research Center, studies the connections between interstellar chemistry and the materials, particularly organics, found in meteorites. A veteran of three Antarctic meteorite expeditions, he is a co-investigator on the STARDUST mission.Naming citation (20080718/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Scottsandford is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Scottsandford is 2.64 au from the Sun and 3.08 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 21962 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 VS203 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.11 km (#12,486 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.316 |
| Rotation period | 8.44 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.07 |
| Orbital period | 4.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.78 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.30 – 3.27 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.174 |
| Inclination | 9.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.32 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Scott
- (4642) Murchie
- (7861) Messenger
- (8802) Negley
- (9544) Scottbirney
- (10191) Scottbolton
- (10514) Harlow
- (12668) Scottstarin
- (14698) Scottyoung
- (15779) Scottroberts
- (16035) Sasandford
- (16039) Zeglin
- (16094) Scottmccord
All asteroids named after someone called Scott
Also discovered on 9 November 1999
- (14220) Alexgibbs
- (19719) Glasser
- (20695) Santiagoiglesias
- (20696) Torresduarte
- (21900) Orus
- (21942) Subramanian
- (21943) Diannacowern
- (23002) Jillhirsch
- (23003) Ziminski
- (23004) Triciatalbert
- (24101) Cassini
- (24102) Jacquescassini