(738926) Nitschelm Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 4 June 2011 by EURONEAR at Cerro Tololo.
Christian Nitschelm (b. 1957) is a French astronomer, since 2012 co-founder and professor of the Centre of Astronomy of the University of Antofagasta, Chile. His main interest is stellar spectroscopy, but throughout his career he remained very active in public outreach and stargazing in France and Chile.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #28, 16), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Nitschelm is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Nitschelm is 2.49 au from the Sun and 2.13 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 738926 |
| Provisional designation | 2017 DK47 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.93 |
| Orbital period | 3.48 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.30 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.08 – 2.51 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0940 |
| Inclination | 7.08° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.08 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christian
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- (19992) Schonbein
- (22848) Chrisharriot
- (39814) Christianlegrand
- (42613) Schaller
- (55772) Loder
All asteroids named after someone called Christian