What main-belt asteroid is named after Dmitri Mendeleev?

The main-belt asteroid named after Dmitri Mendeleev is 2769 Mendeleev. Its formal designation combines the permanent number 2769 with the surname of the Russian chemist who formulated the periodic law and helped create the periodic table.

The asteroid was discovered on 1 April 1976 by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. Before receiving its permanent name, it was tracked under the provisional designation 1976 GZ2. The name Mendeleev was officially assigned in 1984 in recognition of the scientist’s contribution to chemistry.

2769 Mendeleev is a main-belt asteroid, meaning it orbits the Sun in the broad region between Mars and Jupiter. It is not the same object as Mendeleev, the large impact crater on the Moon, and it should not be confused with mendelevium, synthetic element 101, which was also named in Mendeleev’s honor.

The asteroid’s naming reflects how widely his legacy extends beyond chemistry: astronomical features, an element and even minerals carry his name.