(52601) Iwayaji Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 29 September 1997 by A. Nakamura at Kuma Kogen.
Iwayaji, located in the eastern part of the town of Kuma Kogen, was founded in the early ninth century by Kobo Daishi, who practiced mountain asceticism there. Since then, Iwayaji has been the 45th destination for the Shikoku pilgrimage.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 7), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Iwayaji is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Iwayaji is 2.84 au from the Sun and 3.61 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 52601 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 SJ16 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.18 |
| Orbital period | 4.36 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.67 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.46 – 2.88 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0800 |
| Inclination | 6.85° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.46 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.