(9793) Torvalds Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 January 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Finnish computer scientist Linus Torvalds (b. 1969) created the Linux computer operating system used by Spacewatch and several other asteroid surveys for their data collection and analysis. The development of Linux involved a large Internet collaboration and demonstrates the possibilities of the free exchange of information.Naming citation (20001111/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Torvalds is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Torvalds is 2.32 au from the Sun and 3.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9793 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 BW4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.59 km (#11,456 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0700 |
| Rotation period | 27.2 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.65 |
| Orbital period | 3.39 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.26 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 2.62 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.160 |
| Inclination | 3.65° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.906 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Linus
All asteroids named after someone called Linus
Also discovered on 16 January 1996
- (7359) Messier
- (7498) Blanik
- (7796) Jaracimrman
- (7846) Setvak
- (9424) Hiroshinishiyama
- (14948) Bartuska
- (15853) Benedettafoglia