(10443) van der Pol Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Dutch physicist and mathematician Balthasar van der Pol (1889-1959) is known for the second-order differential equation used to solve self-oscillatory problems within electrical waves. His best-known discovery is perhaps that of frequency modulation for radio. The name was suggested by W. A. Fröger.Naming citation (20010804/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where van der Pol is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: van der Pol is 2.59 au from the Sun and 3.58 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 10443 |
| Provisional designation | 1045 T-2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.44 km (#14,123 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.494 |
| Rotation period | 3.35 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.22 |
| Orbital period | 3.42 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.95 – 2.59 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.142 |
| Inclination | 7.84° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.945 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 29 September 1973
- (2049) Grietje
- (4357) Korinthos
- (4549) Burkhardt
- (4721) Atahualpa
- (4752) Myron
- (4876) Strabo
- (4978) Seitz
- (5151) Weerstra
- (5197) Rottmann
- (5243) Clasien
- (5244) Amphilochos
- (5266) Rauch