(18747) Lexcen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 March 1999 by J. Broughton at Reedy Creek.
Ben Lexcen (1936–1988) was the amiable Australian marine architect who designed Australia II, the yacht with the revolutionary winged keel that won the 1983 America's Cup, to the surprise of the yachting world.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Lexcen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Lexcen is 2.43 au from the Sun and 1.99 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 18747 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 FN21 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.74 |
| Orbital period | 3.19 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.90 – 2.43 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.122 |
| Inclination | 3.31° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.894 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Ben
- (12655) Benferinga
- (13064) Haemhouts
- (14631) Benbryan
- (20532) Benbilby
- (20626) Rider-Stokes
- (28103) Benmcpheron
- (31435) Benhauck
All asteroids named after someone called Ben