(20174) Eisenstein Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 December 1996 by P. G. Comba at Prescott.
Ferdinand Gotthold Max Eisenstein (1823-1852) was a brilliant German mathematician who published research on elliptic functions, cyclotomy, quadratic and biquadratic residues, as well as on cubic and biquadratic reciprocity laws.Naming citation (20010309/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Eisenstein is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Eisenstein is 2.16 au from the Sun and 1.19 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20174 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 XD20 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.44 |
| Orbital period | 3.78 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.43 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.15 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.113 |
| Inclination | 6.57° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.17 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ferdinand
- (4662) Runk
- (6769) Brokoff
- (14940) Freiligrath
- (15071) Hallerstein
- (17486) Hodler
- (204370) Ferdinandvanek
- (423645) Quenisset
All asteroids named after someone called Ferdinand