(17971) Samuelhowell Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 May 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Samuel James Amberson Howell (b. 1986) was awarded first place and Best in Category in the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his biochemistry project. He attends the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.A.Naming citation (20040614/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Samuelhowell is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Samuelhowell is 1.99 au from the Sun and 2.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17971 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 JZ50 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.39 km (#14,247 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.185 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.58 |
| Orbital period | 3.42 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.88 – 2.65 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.169 |
| Inclination | 2.94° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.868 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Samuel
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- (4321) Zero
- (8672) Morse
- (9126) Samcoulson
- (9465) Fergusonsam
- (9687) Uhlenbeck
- (11686) Samuelweissman
- (12911) Goodhue
- (20656) Samuelgrant
- (21351) Bhagwat
- (25604) Karlin
- (28642) Zbarsky
All asteroids named after someone called Samuel
Also discovered on 10 May 1999
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- (11225) Borden
- (11227) Ksenborisova
- (11228) Botnick
- (11229) Brookebowers
- (11230) Deschaffer
- (11231) Schiavo
- (11413) Catanach
- (11414) Allanchu
- (12117) Meagmessina
- (16048) Eddiedai
- (16049) D'Amore