(9271) Trimble Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 November 1978 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J. at Palomar.
Virginia Louise Trimble (b. 1943) is a highly perceptive commentator on the state of astronomy, regarded as a creative and insightful spokesperson for astronomy. Beyond her own special interests in stellar structure and evolution, she has improved the health of the profession through her application of historical citation studies.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2018-01-31), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Trimble is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Trimble is 2.98 au from the Sun and 3.63 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9271 |
| Provisional designation | 1978 VT8 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 12.7 km (#3,847 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0690 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.27 |
| Orbital period | 5.21 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.01 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.96 – 3.05 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0160 |
| Inclination | 4.78° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.95 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Virginia
All asteroids named after someone called Virginia
Also discovered on 7 November 1978
- (2324) Janice
- (2440) Educatio
- (2499) Brunk
- (2611) Boyce
- (2725) David Bender
- (2925) Beatty
- (3240) Laocoon
- (3449) Abell
- (3651) Friedman
- (3718) Dunbar
- (3926) Ramirez
- (4012) Geballe