(6581) Sobers Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 22 September 1981 by A. Mrkos at Klet.
Named in honor of Garfield St. Aubrun (Gary) Sobers (b. 1936), West Indian cricketer, considered by many as the best all-rounder of all time. As a batsman, Sobers scored 8032 runs in 160 Test innings, including 26 centuries and 365 (not out) against Pakistan in 1957-1958. As a bowler, he took 235 Test wickets, averaging one wicket for each 34 runs given up, and was also an excellent close-fielder. Name suggested by G. V. Williams, who made the identifications involving this object.Naming citation (19960828/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Sobers is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sobers is 2.03 au from the Sun and 1.57 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 6581 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 SO |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.72 km (#9,363 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.311 |
| Rotation period | 6.63 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.42 |
| Orbital period | 3.49 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.30 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.02 – 2.57 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.120 |
| Inclination | 6.01° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.02 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.