(4721) Atahualpa Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Where Atahualpa is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsAtahualpaAtahualpa

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Atahualpa is 2.00 au from the Sun and 2.91 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number4721
Provisional designation4239 T-2
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter4.61 km (#11,416 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.332
Absolute magnitude (H)14.0
Orbital period3.38 years
Semi-major axis2.25 au
Perihelion – aphelion1.98 – 2.53 au
Eccentricity0.121
Inclination4.36°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)0.968 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 29 September 1973

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.