(24960) Usukikenichi Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 6 October 1997 by Endate, K., Watanabe, K. at Kitami.
Kenichi Usuki (1967–2023) was the first winner of the Astronomical Society of Japan (ASJ ) Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Amateur in 2001. He launched a project to preserve the Nisshinkan Observatory ruins that was certified as the first Japan Astronomical Heritage by ASJ in 2019.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #15, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Usukikenichi is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Usukikenichi is 3.24 au from the Sun and 2.79 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 24960 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 TV17 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 11.9 km (#4,145 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0550 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.69 |
| Orbital period | 5.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.03 – 3.31 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0442 |
| Inclination | 9.91° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 6 October 1997
- (8231) Tetsujiyamada
- (14105) Nakadai
- (14981) Uenoiwakura
- (15390) Znojil
- (15907) Robot
- (15910) Shinkamigoto
- (48798) Penghuanwu