(73687) Thomas Aquinas Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 October 1990 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
Thomas Aquinas (1225?-1274), Italian Tommaso d´Aquino, surnamed ‘Doctor Angelicus’, is one of the foremost medieval theologians and philosophers. He wrote several major books, including (Summa theologiae and Summa contra gentiles), and he tried to reconcile faith with reason. The name was suggested by the first discoverer.Naming citation (20041126/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Thomas Aquinas is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Thomas Aquinas is 2.45 au from the Sun and 3.32 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 73687 |
| Provisional designation | 1990 TQ2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.32 km (#12,010 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.181 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.84 |
| Orbital period | 4.14 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.58 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.18 – 2.98 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.155 |
| Inclination | 15.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.21 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Thomas
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- (6361) Koppel
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- (8382) Mann
- (8793) Thomasmuller
- (9460) McGlynn
- (9536) Statler
All asteroids named after someone called Thomas
Also discovered on 10 October 1990
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- (6068) Brandenburg
- (6717) Antal
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- (17460) Mang
- (18360) Sachs
- (19159) Taenakano
- (19162) Wambsganss
- (19992) Schonbein
- (19993) Gunterseeber