30257

30257 is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on September 29, 1999, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project. The asteroid is approximately 3.5 kilometers in diameter and has a rotation period of about 5.5 hours. It is classified as a main-belt asteroid, with a semi-major axis of 2.61 astronomical units (AU) and an orbital period of 4.14 years. The asteroid's orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 13.5 degrees relative to the ecliptic. 30257 is named after the American astronomer and educator Carl Sagan, who is known for his contributions to the fields of astronomy, astrobiology, and science communication. The naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on March 1, 2005 (M.P.C. 54277).