(1688) Wilkens Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 March 1951 by M. Itzigsohn at La Plata.
Named in memory of Alexander Wilkens, researcher in many branches of astronomy, most notably celestial mechanics. He worked for many years in Germany, then at the La Plata Observatory, where he produced two generations of celestial mechanicians before returning to his native country.Naming citation (MPC 5449), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Wilkens is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wilkens is 3.18 au from the Sun and 3.62 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 1688 |
| Provisional designation | 1951 EQ1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 16.2 km (#2,834 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0440 |
| Rotation period | 7.25 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.74 |
| Orbital period | 4.25 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.99 – 3.25 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.240 |
| Inclination | 11.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.993 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alexander
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- (6941) Dalgarno
- (7660) Alexanderwilson
- (8479) Held
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- (8795) Dudorov
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- (15434) Mittal
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- (17073) Alexblank
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All asteroids named after someone called Alexander