(16674) Birkeland Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 January 1994 by Elst, E. W., Pollas, C. at Caussols.
Kristian Olaf Birkeland (1867-1917) was a Norwegian scientist who elucidated the nature of the aurora borealis. He constructed an electromagnetic device enabling him to simulate the light of the polar aurora by directing a beam of cathode rays (electrons) on a sphere in a vacuum tank.Naming citation (20100726/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Birkeland is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Birkeland is 2.53 au from the Sun and 1.57 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 16674 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 BK3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.17 |
| Orbital period | 4.23 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.61 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.41 – 2.82 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0801 |
| Inclination | 8.46° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.40 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Kristian
All asteroids named after someone called Kristian
Also discovered on 16 January 1994
- (7196) Baroni
- (7197) Pieroangela
- (7198) Montelupo
- (7529) Vagnozzi
- (8883) Miyazakihayao
- (11574) d'Alviella
- (14015) Senancour
- (14016) Steller
- (18431) Stazzema
- (29311) Lesire
- (30936) Basra
- (30937) Bashkirtseff
More named asteroids discovered by Elst, E. W., Pollas, C.
- (7296) Lamarck
- (14015) Senancour
- (14016) Steller
- (29311) Lesire
- (30936) Basra
- (30937) Bashkirtseff
- (30938) Montmartre
- (30939) Samaritaine
← (16672) Bedini · (16675) Torii →