(16861) Lipovetsky Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 December 1997 by R. A. Tucker at Goodricke-Pigott.
Valentin Alexandrovich Lipovetsky (1945-1996) was a senior researcher at the Special Astrophysical Observatory, Zelenchukskaya, and headed a group studying Blue Compact Galaxies. He was an expert on active galactic nuclei and participated in the production of the First Byurakan Survey.Naming citation (20010309/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Lipovetsky is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Lipovetsky is 2.56 au from the Sun and 1.76 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 16861 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 YZ11 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.07 km (#12,573 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.245 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.4 |
| Orbital period | 4.24 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.40 – 2.84 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0828 |
| Inclination | 9.17° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.39 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Valentin
- (6161) Vojno-Yasenetsky
- (7869) Pradun
- (8409) Valentaugustus
- (9733) Valtikhonov
- (9741) Solokhin
- (10015) Valenlebedev
- (10481) Esipov
- (646626) Valentingrigore
All asteroids named after someone called Valentin
Also discovered on 27 December 1997
- (8432) Tamakasuga
- (10234) Sixtygarden
- (15938) Bohnenblust
- (31189) Tricomi
- (31190) Toussaint
- (33103) Pintar
- (52649) Chrismith
- (65885) Lubenow