(16951) Carolus Quartus Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 19 May 1998 by P. Pravec at Ondrejov.
Karel IV (1316-1378), king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, supported cultural and scientific advancement. Charles University, which he founded in Prague, was the first university in central Europe. During his 30-year reign the Czech lands did not experience the hardship of wars. The name was suggested by M. Juřík.Naming citation (20010309/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Carolus Quartus is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Carolus Quartus is 3.06 au from the Sun and 2.08 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 16951 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 KJ |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.61 km (#5,335 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.174 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.87 |
| Orbital period | 5.17 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.99 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.82 – 3.16 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0568 |
| Inclination | 11.1° |
| 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 Karel
- (5514) Karelraska
- (6379) Vrba
- (7226) Kryl
- (11431) Karelbosscha
- (12160) Karelwakker
- (17407) Teige
- (19291) Karelzeman
- (21801) Ancerl
- (22465) Karelandel
- (22505) Lewit
- (29674) Rausal
- (31124) Slavicek
All asteroids named after someone called Karel