(7660) Alexanderwilson Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 5 November 1993 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring.
Alexander Wilson (1714-1786) was the first professor of practical astronomy at the University of Glasgow. He measured atmospheric temperature with height and, from the “Wilson Effect”, developed a model of sunspots.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2016-11-14), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Alexanderwilson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alexanderwilson is 2.16 au from the Sun and 3.00 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7660 |
| Provisional designation | 1993 VM1 |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.15 km (#14,819 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.348 |
| Rotation period | 5.92 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.52 |
| Orbital period | 2.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 1.91 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.64 – 2.18 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.140 |
| Inclination | 23.2° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.779 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alexander
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- (4837) Bickerton
- (6941) Dalgarno
- (8479) Held
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- (15434) Mittal
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- (17073) Alexblank
- (21397) Leontovich
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All asteroids named after someone called Alexander