(17980) Vanschaik Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 May 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Katherine Douglas Van Schaik (b. 1986) was awarded first place and Best in Category in the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for her environmental science project. She attends the Spring Valley High School, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A.Naming citation (20040614/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Vanschaik is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vanschaik is 3.01 au from the Sun and 3.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17980 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 JN56 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.18 km (#10,284 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.114 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.18 |
| Orbital period | 4.77 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.84 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.60 – 3.07 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0827 |
| Inclination | 3.22° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.60 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Katherine
- (9477) Kefennell
- (12986) Kretke
- (13275) Kathgoetz
- (17218) Stgeorge
- (18787) Kathermann
- (18992) Katharvard
- (20281) Kathartman
- (20791) de Kleer
- (21939) Kasmith
- (23875) Strube
- (24119) Katherinrose
- (24385) Katcagen
All asteroids named after someone called Katherine
Also discovered on 10 May 1999
- (11219) Benbohn
- (11225) Borden
- (11227) Ksenborisova
- (11228) Botnick
- (11229) Brookebowers
- (11230) Deschaffer
- (11231) Schiavo
- (11413) Catanach
- (11414) Allanchu
- (12117) Meagmessina
- (16048) Eddiedai
- (16049) D'Amore