Rafael Pacheco facts for kids

Rafael Pacheco Hernández, born in Madrid in 1954, is a Spanish astronomer. He is famous for finding many asteroids, which are also called minor planets. He often worked with another astronomer named Ángel López Jiménez.

One of the asteroids, 25001 Pacheco, was even named in his honor! This shows how important his work has been in discovering objects in space.

Discovering Space Rocks

Rafael Pacheco has discovered 57 minor planets. These are small objects that orbit the Sun, much like planets, but they are usually much smaller and irregularly shaped. Most of them are found in the asteroid belt, which is a region between Mars and Jupiter.

When astronomers like Rafael Pacheco discover a new minor planet, they carefully observe it to confirm its orbit. Once confirmed, it gets a special number and sometimes a name. The asteroid named after him, 25001 Pacheco, is a great example of how his contributions are recognized in the world of astronomy. His work helps us learn more about our solar system and the many objects within it.

Where to Learn More

• Brief biography of Rafael Pacheco

See also

In Spanish: Rafael Pacheco para niños