(17637) Blaschke Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 11 August 1996 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Wilhelm Johann Eugen Blaschke (1885-1962) was instrumental in establishing the University of Hamburg as an important center of mathematical research. His own research centered on differential and integral geometry and kinematics, and he laid the foundations of topological differential geometry.Naming citation (20010109/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Blaschke is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Blaschke is 2.25 au from the Sun and 1.62 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17637 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 PA1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.20 km (#14,713 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.464 |
| Rotation period | 5.05 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.43 |
| Orbital period | 3.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.38 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.06 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.134 |
| Inclination | 7.41° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Wilhelm
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- (10780) Apollinaire
- (11040) Wundt
- (11844) Ostwald
- (12398) Pickhardt
- (14366) Wilhelmraabe
- (16522) Tell
- (17821) Bolsche
- (27719) Fast
- (42492) Bruggenthies
- (55759) Erdmannsdorff
- (89455) Metzendorf
All asteroids named after someone called Wilhelm