(12160) Karelwakker Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Karel F. Wakker (b. 1944), professor of astrodynamics at Delft Technical University, has made important contributions to Dutch, ESA and NASA space projects, as well as inspiring numerous students. The name was suggested by F. Israel.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #21, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Karelwakker is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Karelwakker is 2.71 au from the Sun and 2.15 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 12160 |
| Provisional designation | 1152 T-2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.61 |
| Orbital period | 3.73 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.41 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.93 – 2.88 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.198 |
| Inclination | 4.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.920 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Karel
- (5514) Karelraska
- (6379) Vrba
- (7226) Kryl
- (11431) Karelbosscha
- (16951) Carolus Quartus
- (17407) Teige
- (19291) Karelzeman
- (21801) Ancerl
- (22465) Karelandel
- (22505) Lewit
- (29674) Rausal
- (31124) Slavicek
All asteroids named after someone called Karel
Also discovered on 29 September 1973
- (2049) Grietje
- (4357) Korinthos
- (4549) Burkhardt
- (4721) Atahualpa
- (4752) Myron
- (4876) Strabo
- (4978) Seitz
- (5151) Weerstra
- (5197) Rottmann
- (5243) Clasien
- (5244) Amphilochos
- (5266) Rauch