(20192) Thomasback Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 31 January 1997 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Thomas Michael Back (1957–2007) was an American optician and amateur astronomer who revolutionized apochromatic refractor telescopes. He designed apochromatic triplet objectives with exceptionally low chromatic aberration and the Super Monocentric eyepieces, which became highly regarded among lunar and planetary visual observers.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #16, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Thomasback is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Thomasback is 2.95 au from the Sun and 3.42 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20192 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 BE4 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.56 km (#8,173 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0450 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.78 |
| Orbital period | 4.23 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.08 – 3.16 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.207 |
| Inclination | 3.00° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.07 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Thomas
- (4008) Corbin
- (4739) Tomahrens
- (4830) Thomascooley
- (4897) Tomhamilton
- (5548) Thosharriot
- (6019) Telford
- (6361) Koppel
- (8236) Gainsborough
- (8382) Mann
- (8793) Thomasmuller
- (9460) McGlynn
- (9536) Statler
All asteroids named after someone called Thomas
Also discovered on 31 January 1997
- (9112) Hatsulars
- (9232) Miretti
- (12032) Ivory
- (12033) Anselmo
- (12470) Pinotti
- (13192) Quine
- (13652) Elowitz
- (21336) Andyblanchard