(15896) Birkhoff Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 June 1997 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
George David Birkhoff (1884-1944) was one of the foremost American mathematicians of the early twentieth century. He made important contributions to ergodic theory, the topological theory of dynamical systems, ordinary differential equations and difference equations.Naming citation (20001111/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Birkhoff is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Birkhoff is 2.29 au from the Sun and 3.23 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 15896 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 LX5 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.67 |
| Orbital period | 3.78 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.43 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.06 – 2.79 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.152 |
| Inclination | 1.99° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.04 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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