(17696) Bombelli Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 March 1997 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Rafael Bombelli (1526-1572) was a mathematician of Bologna. His widely read treatise on algebra introduced a consistent procedure for handling imaginary complex numbers, removing some of the mystery from the so-called irreducible case of the solution of the cubic equation.Naming citation (20010109/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Bombelli is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Bombelli is 2.86 au from the Sun and 1.86 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17696 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 EH8 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.79 km (#6,783 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.183 |
| Rotation period | 13.0 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.32 |
| Orbital period | 5.26 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.02 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.77 – 3.28 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0834 |
| Inclination | 9.71° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.81 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Rafael
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- (20603) Rafaelribeiro
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- (128036) Rafaelnadal
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All asteroids named after someone called Rafael