(8777) Torquata Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 16 October 1977 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Named for Saxicola torquata, or stonechat.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #8, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Torquata is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsTorquataTorquata

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Torquata is 2.76 au from the Sun and 2.91 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number8777
Provisional designation5016 T-3
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Rotation period241 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)13.51
Orbital period4.58 years
Semi-major axis2.76 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.40 – 3.12 au
Eccentricity0.131
Inclination9.87°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.41 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 16 October 1977

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.