(40684) Vanhoeck Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 September 1999 by T. Pauwels at Uccle.
Luc Vanhoeck (1959-2005) was a Belgian amateur astronomer and pioneer of digital astrophotography. Together with Ignace Naudts he edited Heelal, the magazine of the Flemish Amateur Astronomers Association, during 1988--1994. The name was suggested by S. De Jonge, C. Steyaert and J. Meeus.Naming citation (20090409/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Vanhoeck is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vanhoeck is 2.80 au from the Sun and 3.10 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 40684 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 RE214 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.55 |
| Orbital period | 4.68 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.80 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.72 – 2.88 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0287 |
| Inclination | 3.16° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.72 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Luc
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- (18112) Jeanlucjosset
- (25259) Lucarnold
- (49296) Lucdettwiller
- (100924) Luctuymans
- (741718) Simard
All asteroids named after someone called Luc
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