(5657) Groombridge Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 28 August 1936 by K. Reinmuth at Heidelberg.
Stephen Groombridge (1755-1832) compiled a famous catalogue of circumpolar stars down to ninth magnitude. Starting in 1806, he used a transit circle for the 20-year work. In 1842 Argelander found that star No. 1830 in the catalogue had the highest proper motion then known. The name was suggested by L. D. Schmadel.Naming citation (20090806/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Groombridge is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Groombridge is 2.97 au from the Sun and 3.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 5657 |
| Provisional designation | 1936 QE1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 7.37 km (#7,243 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.296 |
| Rotation period | 7.43 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.14 |
| Orbital period | 4.16 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.59 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.15 – 3.02 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.167 |
| Inclination | 14.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.16 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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