(2234) Schmadel Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 27 April 1977 by H.-E. Schuster at La Silla.
Named in honor of Lutz D. Schmadel, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, computer of orbits and ephemerides of minor planets, and Editor of “Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts”. The lost objects (1206) Numerowia and (1370) Hella were recovered as the result of his calculations.Naming citation (MPC 5285), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Schmadel is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Schmadel is 2.31 au from the Sun and 1.82 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 2234 |
| Provisional designation | 1977 HD |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.47 km (#5,436 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.284 |
| Rotation period | 15.6 hours |
| Spectral type | A |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.52 |
| Orbital period | 4.43 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.70 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.15 – 3.24 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.202 |
| Inclination | 25.2° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.31 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Lutz
All asteroids named after someone called Lutz