(50855) Williamschultz Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 30 March 2000 by CSS at Catalina.
William Schultz, Jr. (1904–1975) was with the Cranbrook school system in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from 1930 to 1969. A man of many interests (astronomy, mineralogy, ham radio), he refurbished the Cranbrook (now Hulbert) Observatory. He built their first planetarium, becoming the first Resident Astronomer.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 1, #1, 19), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Williamschultz is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Williamschultz is 2.14 au from the Sun and 2.52 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 50855 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 FK55 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.33 km (#14,410 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.278 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.7 |
| Orbital period | 4.23 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.62 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.14 – 3.09 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.183 |
| Inclination | 10.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.15 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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