(46737) Anpanman Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 1 November 1997 by A. Nakamura at Kuma Kogen.
Anpanman is a popular cartoon hero whose head is a bun filled with sweet bean jam. Authored by Takashi Yanase in 1973, and animated on TV and film in 1988, Anpanman's friendly figure and character have fascinated young children in Japan.Naming citation (20030806/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Anpanman is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Anpanman is 3.43 au from the Sun and 3.00 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 46737 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 VO |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.07 km (#6,505 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0680 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.17 |
| Orbital period | 5.63 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.16 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.76 – 3.56 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.126 |
| Inclination | 2.16° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.76 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 1 November 1997
- (10400) Hakkaisan
- (14555) Shinohara
- (14998) Ogosemachi
- (15921) Kintaikyo
- (15922) Masajisaito
- (26984) Fernand-Roland
- (27984) Herminefranz
- (33059) Matsuoka
- (44013) Iidetenmondai
- (55875) Hirohatagaoka
- (192439) Cilek