(9053) Hamamelis Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 November 1991 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Named for Hamamelidaceae, the witch hazel family, with about 25 genera and 100 species, typical in South America and Africa. Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) is not a true hazel, although the leaves are similar.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 2, #9, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Hamamelis is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Hamamelis is 2.41 au from the Sun and 3.40 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 9053 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 VW5 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.82 km (#9,200 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.363 |
| Rotation period | 10.4 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.23 |
| Orbital period | 4.09 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.56 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.07 – 3.05 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.191 |
| Inclination | 9.25° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.05 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 2 November 1991
- (6049) Toda
- (6250) Saekohayashi
- (6608) Davidecrespi
- (7826) Kinugasa
- (8175) Boerhaave
- (11063) Poynting
- (16560) Daitor
- (20019) Yukiotanaka
- (24726) Nagatatetsuya