(43803) Wakakinosakura Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 September 1991 by T. Seki at Geisei.
Wakakinosakura is a kind of wild cherry tree discovered in 1889 by Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino at Ogawa Castle in his hometown of Sakawa, Kochi prefecture. In 2008 seeds of the tree were carried to the Japanese module Kibo on the ISS and the cherry trees grown from the returned seeds are affectionately called Uchu-Zakura (“space cherry blossoms”).Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #7, 13), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Wakakinosakura is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wakakinosakura is 3.30 au from the Sun and 4.26 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 43803 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 RH2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.55 km (#8,180 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.179 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.77 |
| Orbital period | 5.28 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.03 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.75 – 3.31 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0922 |
| Inclination | 10.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.76 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 7 September 1991
- (6650) Morimoto
- (7703) Jimcooney
- (7824) Lynch
- (9186) Fumikotsukimoto
- (26837) Yoshitakaokazaki
- (48461) Sabrinamaricia
- (58184) Masayukiyamamoto
- (58185) Rokkosan