(172850) Coppens Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 March 2005 by J.-C. Merlin at Nogales.
A native of Vannes (Brittany, France), Yves Coppens (b. 1934) is an internationally known paleoanthropologist. A professor and former chair of anthropology of the Paris Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, he codiscovered Lucy, the Australopithecus afarensis fossil found in Ethiopia.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #16, 4), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Coppens is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Coppens is 2.78 au from the Sun and 1.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 172850 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 EU27 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.66 |
| Orbital period | 4.72 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.82 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.67 – 2.96 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0517 |
| Inclination | 1.78° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.69 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Yves
All asteroids named after someone called Yves
Also discovered on 3 March 2005
- (117562) Jeffreyferguson
- (117563) Hollyoscarson
- (117565) Alanstrauss
- (117569) Rileyharris
- (117586) Twilatho
- (129148) Sheilahaggard
- (129149) Richwitherspoon
- (129151) Angelaboggs
- (136432) Allenlunsford
- (170995) Ritajoewright
- (175152) Marthafarkas
- (175166) Adirondack