29454

29454 is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on February 28, 1997, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico. The asteroid is approximately 5 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of about 4.6 years. Its orbit is inclined at an angle of 1.6 degrees to the ecliptic plane, and it has an eccentricity of 0.14, indicating a relatively circular orbit. The asteroid's spectral type is S, which suggests it has a stony composition. 29454 is named after the American astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan, who is known for his work on the search for extraterrestrial life and his popular science books, including "Cosmos" and "Contact." The naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on March 2, 2000 (M.P.C. 38384).