(10044) Squyres Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 September 1985 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M. at Palomar.
Steven W. Squyres (b. 1956), professor of astronomy at Cornell University, has used his knowledge of physics in the study of the solid planets and satellites in the solar system. He has participated in a number of space missions studying water ice on Mars, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.Naming citation (20020921/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Squyres is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Squyres is 1.71 au from the Sun and 0.921 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 10044 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 RU |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.61 km (#11,408 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.362 |
| Rotation period | 3.34 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.55 |
| Orbital period | 4.11 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.57 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.71 – 3.42 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.334 |
| Inclination | 16.4° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.720 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Steven
- (5129) Groom
- (6403) Steverin
- (6544) Stevendick
- (8195) Tamkin
- (9280) Stevenjoy
- (9926) Desch
- (10596) Stevensimpson
- (12104) Chesley
- (13415) Stevenbland
- (14438) MacLean
- (15941) Stevegauthier
- (16236) Stebrehmer
All asteroids named after someone called Steven