(338274) Valancius Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 October 2002 by K. Cernis at Palomar.
Motiejus Kazimieras Valančius (1801–1875) was a Roman Catholic bishop of Samogitia, historian and one of the best known Lithuanian writers of the 19th century. He also was the inaugurator of the temperance movement in Lithuania.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #6, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Valancius is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Valancius is 2.77 au from the Sun and 3.02 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 338274 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 TM303 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.05 |
| Orbital period | 4.99 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.92 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.63 – 3.22 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.101 |
| Inclination | 8.04° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.62 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 5 October 2002
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- (84417) Ritabo
- (133007) Audreysimmons
- (133008) Snedden
- (142754) Brunner
- (142755) Castander
- (142756) Chiu
- (142757) Collinge
- (163623) Miknaitis
- (166748) Timrayschneider
- (170007) Strateva
- (170008) Michaelstrauss