(7974) Vermeesch Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.
Theo Vermeesch (b. 1930), since 1968 the first director of the Volkssterrenwacht Simon Stevin in Hoeven, has played a key role in popularizing astronomy and space research in the Netherlands, working with both professional institutions and the public. The name was suggested by T. Gehrels and P. Smolders.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Vermeesch is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vermeesch is 2.47 au from the Sun and 3.47 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 7974 |
| Provisional designation | 2218 T-2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.07 |
| Orbital period | 3.41 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.04 – 2.49 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0987 |
| Inclination | 0.169° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.04 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Theo
All asteroids named after someone called Theo
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