(17493) Wildcat Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 31 December 1991 by Shoemaker, C. S., Levy, D. H. at Palomar.
The University of Arizona (whose athletic symbol is a wildcat) has contributed to astronomy and planetary sciences almost from its founding in 1885. Today the university remains in the forefront of astronomical research, discovery and in astronomical instrument development.Naming citation (20030501/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Wildcat is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wildcat is 3.60 au from the Sun and 3.72 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17493 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 YA |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.76 |
| Orbital period | 4.54 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.74 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.53 – 3.95 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.441 |
| Inclination | 44.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.549 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.