(7784) Watterson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 August 1994 by T. B. Spahr at Catalina Station.
Bill Watterson (b. 1958) is the author of the iconic cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes. Syndicated from 1985 to 1995, this strip is fondly remembered and treasured by the discoverer, and helped him stay awake and sane on long observing nights and during the trials and tribulations of graduate school.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Watterson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Watterson is 2.78 au from the Sun and 3.30 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7784 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 PL |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.56 km (#9,633 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.189 |
| Rotation period | 2.54 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.63 |
| Orbital period | 3.42 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.74 – 2.80 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.235 |
| Inclination | 23.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.858 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Bill
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- (15964) Billgray
- (19695) Billnye
- (20084) Buckmaster
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- (24959) Zielenbach
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- (79896) Billhaley
- (80808) Billmason
- (95852) Leatherbarrow
All asteroids named after someone called Bill