(7747) Michalowski Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 19 September 1987 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.
Named in honor of Tadeusz Michałowski (b. 1954), Polish astronomer at the Astronomical Observatory of Adam Mickiewicz University in Posnan. Michałowski developed a formalism for computing the pole orientation, shape and sidereal rotation period of a minor planet, incorporating both the magnitude and timing information contained in lightcurve observations, in a simultaneous least-squares solution. This method, or methods similar to it, are now widely used standard analysis tools, and they have greatly improved the quality of such determinations. Name suggested by H. Rickman, citation prepared by A. W. Harris.Naming citation (19990728/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Michalowski is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Michalowski is 2.64 au from the Sun and 2.54 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7747 |
| Provisional designation | 1987 SO |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.60 km (#11,440 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.385 |
| Rotation period | 4.50 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.89 |
| Orbital period | 3.47 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.29 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.66 – 2.92 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.274 |
| Inclination | 5.05° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.652 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Tadeusz
All asteroids named after someone called Tadeusz
Also discovered on 19 September 1987
- (5001) EMP
- (5110) Belgirate
- (6123) Aristoteles
- (9020) Eucryphia
- (9164) Colbert
- (10730) White
- (18335) San Cassiano