{{Short description|Main belt asteroid}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox planet |minorplanet = yes |background = #D6D6D6 |image = |caption = |discovery_ref = <ref name="MPC-object"/> |discoverer = Nikolai Chernykh |discovery_site = Crimean Astrophysical Observatory |discovered = 29 March 1979 |mpc_name = (2703) Rodari |named_after = Gianni Rodari |alt_names = {{mp|1976 MN}}{{·}}{{mp|1979 FT|2}}{{·}}{{mp|1979 GU}} |mp_category = Main belt |orbit_ref = <ref name="jpldata"/> |epoch = 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5) |uncertainty = 0 |aphelion = 2.31946 AU |perihelion = 2.06736 AU |semimajor = 2.19341 AU |eccentricity = 0.05746 |inclination = 6.03283° |asc_node = 49.3864° |arg_peri = 171.785° |mean_anomaly = 111.348° |period = 3.24854 y (1186.53 d) |mean_motion = 0.30341° / d |jupiter_moid = 2.64616 AU |tisserand = 3.661 |mean_diameter = 7.63 km<ref name="Rossi1999"/>{{rp|876}} |sidereal_day = 5.5 h<ref name="Angeli2001"/>{{rp|2250}} |spectral_type = S-type<ref name="Rossi1999"/>{{rp|876}} |abs_magnitude = 13.66<ref name="jpldata"/> }} '''2703 Rodari''' (provisional designation '''{{mp|1979 FT|2}}''') is an asteroid located in the main asteroid belt. Discovered by Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory on 29 March 1979, it was named in honor of Italian journalist and children's author Gianni Rodari by the Minor Planet Center (MPC). It is {{convert|7.63|km|mi}} in size and classified as a stony S-type asteroid. From 1996 to 1999, it was briefly considered as a target for the European Space Agency's ''Rosetta'' comet probe, though the agency eventually dropped it in favor of alternative main-belt targets.
== Discovery and naming == Rodari was discovered on 29 March 1979 by astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, with the object receiving the provisional designation <em>{{mp|1979 FT|2}}</em> from the Minor Planet Center (MPC).<ref name="MPC-object"/><ref name="MPC-6345-6424"/>{{rp|47}} It was later assigned the minor planet number of 2703, and on 2 July 1985 the MPC named it <em>Rodari</em> in memory of Gianni Rodari (1920–1980).<ref name="MPC-9717-9810"/>{{rp|52}} Gianni Rodari was an Italian writer and journalist who wrote 25 works of children's literature, winning the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1970 for his contributions as a children's author.<ref name="ibby-rodari"/>{{rp|42–43}}
== Orbit == thumb|left|Diagram showing Rodari's orbit between Mars and Jupiter Rodari orbits the Sun at an average distance—its semi-major axis—of 2.19 astronomical units (AU), placing it in the main asteroid belt. Along its 3.25 year long orbit, its distance from the Sun varies between 2.07 AU at perihelion to 2.32 AU at aphelion due to its orbital eccentricity of 0.06. Its orbit is inclined by 6.03° with respect to the ecliptic plane.<ref name="jpldata"/>
== Physical characteristics == Rodari is estimated to be {{convert|7.63|km|mi}} in size, and is classified as a stony S-type asteroid.<ref name="Rossi1999"/>{{rp|876}} Observations of Rodari's lightcurve, or variations in its observed brightness, show that it is quite asymmetric, complicating the determination of its rotation period. Nevertheless, analysis by a team of astronomers led by Claudia A. Angeli and published in 2001 revealed that it has a rotation period of about 5.5 hours.<ref name="Angeli2001"/>{{rp|2250}}
== Exploration == Rodari was chosen as the second flyby target for the European Space Agency's (ESA) ''Rosetta'' mission in 1996, replacing 2530 Shipka to conserve delta-''v''. Under the 1996 mission baseline, ''Rosetta'' would have encountered Rodari on 5 April 2008 following an earlier encounter with 3840 Mimistrobell in 2006. It would then continue en route to comet 46P/Wirtanen.<ref name="Barucci1998"/>{{rp|1}} However, the ESA again changed ''Rosetta''{{'}}s targets in 1999, dropping Rodari and Mimistrobell in favor of 140 Siwa and 4979 Otawara as they viewed Siwa as more scientifically interesting.<ref name="Colangeli_2004"/>{{rp|71}} Originally planned to launch on 12 January 2003, ''Rosetta'' missed both targets and 46P/Wirtanen due to issues with the Ariane 5 rocket.<ref name="Science14012003"/> It launched in 2004, visiting 2867 Šteins, 21 Lutetia, and its primary target 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.<ref name="Rosetta_Steins"/><ref name="Rosetta_Lutetia"/>
== References == <references>
<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web |title = (2703) Rodari = 1979 FT2 = 1976 MN = 1979 GU |url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2703 |publisher = Minor Planet Center |access-date = 15 November 2025 |url-status = live }} (4509 obs)</ref>
<ref name="jpldata">{{cite web |type = 2025-11-05 last obs. |title = JPL Small-Body Database Lookup: 2703 Rodari (1979 FT2) |url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2703 |publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory |access-date = 15 November 2025 |url-status = live |archive-date = 3 January 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250103085945/https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2703 }}</ref>
<ref name="MPC-6345-6424">{{cite web |title = M. P. C. 6345–6424 |url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1981/MPC_19811013.pdf |work = Minor Planet Circulars |publisher = Minor Planet Center |date = 13 October 1981 |issue = 6345–6424 |accessdate = 15 November 2025 |archive-date = 16 November 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20251116002151/https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1981/MPC_19811013.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="MPC-9717-9810">{{cite web |title = M. P. C. 9717–9810 |url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1985/MPC_19850702.pdf |work = Minor Planet Circulars |publisher = Minor Planet Center |date = 2 July 1985 |issue = 9717–9810 |accessdate = 15 November 2025 |archive-date = 15 November 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20251115234824/https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1985/MPC_19850702.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name=ibby-rodari>{{cite book |last1=Glistrup |first1=Eva |title=The Hans Christian Andersen Awards, 1956–2002 |publisher=International Board on Books for Young People |date=2002 |url=https://www.ibby.org/subnavigation/archives/flipbook?tx_archive_archivelist%5Baction%5D=show&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Publication&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bpublication%5D=4&cHash=572fd5aef5fbab8a9156d6d9571ac598 |access-date=15 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325125752/https://www.ibby.org/subnavigation/archives/flipbook?tx_archive_archivelist%5Baction%5D=show&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Publication&tx_archive_archivelist%5Bpublication%5D=4&cHash=572fd5aef5fbab8a9156d6d9571ac598 |archive-date=25 March 2025 }}</ref>
<ref name="Barucci1998">{{cite journal |last1=Barucci |first1=M. Antonietta |last2=Doressoundiram |first2=Alain |last3=Fulchignoni |first3=Marcello |last4=Florczak |first4=Marcos |last5=Lazzarin |first5=Monica |last6=Angeli |first6=Claudia |title=Compositional type characterization of Rosetta asteroid candidates |date=January 1998 |journal=Planetary and Space Science |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=75–82 |doi=10.1016/S0032-0633(97)00128-1 |bibcode=1998P&SS...46...75B }}</ref>
<ref name="Rossi1999">{{cite journal |last1=Rossi |first1=A. |last2=Fulchignoni |first2=M. |title=Study of the environment around the Rosetta candidate target asteroids |date=June 1999 |journal=Planetary and Space Science |volume=47 |issue=6–7 |pages=873–881 |doi=10.1016/S0032-0633(98)00109-3 |bibcode=1999P&SS...47..873R }}</ref>
<ref name="Angeli2001">{{cite journal |last1=Angeli |first1=C. A. |last2=Guimarães |first2=T. A. |last3=Lazzaro |first3=D. |last4=Duffard |first4=R. |last5=Fernández |first5=S. |last6=Florczak |first6=M. |last7=Mothé-Diniz |first7=T. |last8=Carvano |first8=J. M. |last9=Betzler |first9=A. S. |title=Rotation Periods for Small Main-Belt Asteroids From CCD Photometry |date=April 2001 |journal=The Astronomical Journal |volume=121 |issue=4 |pages=2245–2252 |doi=10.1086/319936 |bibcode=2001AJ....121.2245A }}</ref>
<ref name="Colangeli_2004">{{cite book | author1= L. Colangeli | author2= E. M. Epifani | author3= P. Palumbo | title= The New Rosetta Targets: Observations, Simulations and Instrument Performances | publisher= Springer Dordrecht | edition= 1st | year= 2004 | pages= 71–72 | isbn= 978-1-4020-2573-0 | issn= 0067-0057 | doi= 10.1007/978-1-4020-2573-0 }} </ref>
<ref name="Science14012003">{{cite web |publisher=Science |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/rosetta-probe-wont-launch |title=Rosetta Probe Won't Launch |date=14 January 2003 |last1=Schilling |first1=Govert |access-date=28 August 2025 }}</ref>
<ref name="Rosetta_Steins">{{cite news |title=Steins: A diamond in the sky |publisher=ESA |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Steins_A_diamond_in_the_sky |date=6 September 2008 |access-date=28 August 2025 }}</ref>
<ref name="Rosetta_Lutetia">{{cite news |title=Rosetta triumphs at asteroid Lutetia |publisher=ESA |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_triumphs_at_asteroid_Lutetia |date=10 July 2010 |access-date=28 August 2025 |archive-date=20 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720143127/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_triumphs_at_asteroid_Lutetia |url-status=live }}</ref>
</references>
== External links == * {{ESA-SSA|2703|Rodari}} * {{JPL small body|id=2703}}
{{Minor planets navigator |2702 Batrakov |number=2703 |2704 Julian Loewe}} {{Small Solar System bodies}} {{Rosetta mission}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodari}} 002703 Category:Discoveries by Nikolai Chernykh Category:Named minor planets 19790329 002703