(5074) Goetzoertel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 August 1949 by Indiana University at Brooklyn.
Goetz V. Oertel (b. 1934), capping a distinguished career in science administration, served as president of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy from 1986 to 1999. Under his leadership, AURA became the managing organization for the Gemini Observatory, twin 8-meter telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.Naming citation (20031110/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Goetzoertel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Goetzoertel is 3.01 au from the Sun and 3.08 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5074 |
| Provisional designation | 1949 QQ1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 13.2 km (#3,647 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.211 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.07 |
| Orbital period | 5.18 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.99 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.69 – 3.30 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.101 |
| Inclination | 8.55° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.72 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.