(303909) Tomknops Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 11 October 2005 by P. De Cat at Uccle.
Tom Knops (1978-2011) was a pilot with Tyrolean Airways, spouse of Nele Blomme and father of Toke Knops. Name suggested by Sofie Delanoye and Jeroen Maes, friends of the discoverer.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2014-02-14), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Tomknops is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Tomknops is 3.06 au from the Sun and 2.58 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 303909 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 TK170 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.84 |
| Orbital period | 5.43 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.09 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.96 – 3.22 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0428 |
| Inclination | 9.56° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.95 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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