(9960) Sekine Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 November 1991 by S. Otomo at Kiyosato.
Masumi Sekine (b. 1950) is the president of astronomical society at Ageo city. He has been involved with the organization of the annual Chichibu star party since 1983.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #13, 8), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Sekine is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sekine is 2.09 au from the Sun and 2.65 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9960 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 VE4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.19 km (#14,718 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.301 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.57 |
| Orbital period | 3.26 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.20 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.78 – 2.61 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.189 |
| Inclination | 4.84° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.778 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 4 November 1991
- (5562) Sumi
- (6729) Emiko
- (6969) Santaro
- (7769) Okuni
- (8864) Aikawa
- (9190) Masako
- (10099) Glazebrook
- (10343) Church
- (13077) Edschneider
- (15295) Tante Riek
- (20020) Mipach