(8604) Vanier Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 12 August 1929 by C. J. Krieger at Mount Hamilton.
Jean Vanier (b. 1928) is a philosopher, theologian, author and teacher. As the founder of two global communities (L'Arche, Faith and Light) for people with intellectual disabilities, he presents a compelling vision of a fully human life, lived in compassionate community.Naming citation (20100527/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Vanier is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vanier is 1.98 au from the Sun and 1.88 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8604 |
| Provisional designation | 1929 PK |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.06 km (#12,589 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.246 |
| Rotation period | 4.49 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.5 |
| Orbital period | 3.32 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.23 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.74 – 2.71 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.218 |
| Inclination | 4.41° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.745 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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