(162001) Vulpius Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 October 1990 by Borngen, F., Schmadel, L. D. at Tautenburg.
Melchior Vulpius (1570–1615), from 1596 municipal Kantor in Weimar, was a composer and teacher. He wrote some 400 hymns, including “The clear bright sun is rising now” and “Sunk is the sun's last beam of light”. Among his descendants was Christiane, the wife of Goethe. The name was suggested by the first discoverer.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #14, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Vulpius is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Vulpius is 3.02 au from the Sun and 3.96 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 162001 |
| Provisional designation | 1990 TH9 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.98 |
| Orbital period | 4.18 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.60 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.09 – 3.11 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.196 |
| Inclination | 14.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.09 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 10 October 1990
- (5236) Yoko
- (6068) Brandenburg
- (6717) Antal
- (8500) Hori
- (11886) Kraske
- (15727) Ianmorison
- (17460) Mang
- (18360) Sachs
- (19159) Taenakano
- (19162) Wambsganss
- (19992) Schonbein
- (19993) Gunterseeber