(7487) Toshitanaka Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 28 December 1994 by T. Kobayashi at Oizumi.
Toshinari Tanaka (b. 1954), physicist and amateur astronomer, constructed an electron accelerator called the “double-sided microtron”. He is also involved in the spread of astronomical knowledge through the development of a system to control remote telescopes over the Internet, while giving short courses for telescope control.Naming citation (20030501/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Toshitanaka is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Toshitanaka is 2.94 au from the Sun and 3.85 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7487 |
| Provisional designation | 1994 YM |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.10 km (#6,470 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.324 |
| Rotation period | 4.50 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.68 |
| Orbital period | 4.41 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.69 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.24 – 3.14 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.167 |
| Inclination | 13.5° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.28 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.