(117435) Severochoa Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 January 2005 by J. Lacruz at La Canada.
Severo Ochoa (1905-1993), born in Luarca, Spain, discovered polynucleotide phosphorylase, an enzyme that enabled the synthesis of ribonucleic acid. His 1955 discovery provided an understanding of how genetic information is translated. For this work he was awarded the 1959 Nobel Prize in medicine.Naming citation (20060219/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Severochoa is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Severochoa is 2.79 au from the Sun and 1.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 117435 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 AJ29 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.53 km (#11,571 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0340 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.09 |
| Orbital period | 4.62 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.78 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.76 – 2.79 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.00678 |
| Inclination | 3.61° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.76 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.