(204786) Wehlau Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 May 2006 by P. A. Wiegert at Mauna Kea.
William Henry Wehlau (1926-1995) was an American-born Canadian astronomer who pioneered the field of stellar surface mapping using observed rotational variability of surface abundances and magnetic field strength. He served on the Board of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope from 1974 to 1985.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2013-04-25), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Wehlau is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wehlau is 2.71 au from the Sun and 3.69 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 204786 |
| Provisional designation | 2006 KU131 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 17.27 |
| Orbital period | 4.16 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.59 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.45 – 2.72 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0520 |
| Inclination | 0.389° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.45 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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