(9724) Villanueva Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.
Geronimo L. Villanueva (b. 1978) is a research assistant professor of physics at Catholic University of America. His research contributions are in the area of high-resolution molecular spectroscopy of planetary and cometary atmospheres, with a particular focus on biomarker gases on Mars.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2014-07-12), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Villanueva is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Villanueva is 2.76 au from the Sun and 3.48 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9724 |
| Provisional designation | 1981 EW17 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.70 km (#15,846 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.265 |
| Rotation period | 4.48 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.27 |
| Orbital period | 3.72 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.40 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.04 – 2.77 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.152 |
| Inclination | 1.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Geronimo
All asteroids named after someone called Geronimo
Also discovered on 2 March 1981
- (2884) Reddish
- (2919) Dali
- (2980) Cameron
- (2981) Chagall
- (2990) Trimberger
- (3000) Leonardo
- (3121) Tamines
- (3122) Florence
- (3207) Spinrad
- (3252) Johnny
- (3304) Pearce
- (3524) Schulz