(33976) Van Wal Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 July 2000 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Stefaan Van Wal (b. 1992) is a Belgian aerospace engineer. He studied the deployment and dynamics of rovers on the surfaces of asteroids, using both experimental and simulation techniques. He participated in the Hayabusa2 mission, where he applied his theoretical work to help design the deployment of its rovers and to analyze their dynamics on the surface.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #3, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Van Wal is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Van Wal is 2.42 au from the Sun and 2.95 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 33976 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 NL19 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.14 km (#16,871 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.294 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.58 |
| Orbital period | 3.46 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.29 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.97 – 2.61 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.139 |
| Inclination | 2.94° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.958 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 5 July 2000
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- (18111) Pinet
- (18112) Jeanlucjosset
- (18113) Bibring
- (18114) Rosenbush
- (18115) Rathbun
- (18116) Prato
- (18117) Jonhodge
- (22106) Tomokoarai
- (28911) Mishacollins
- (30444) Shemp
- (30445) Stirling