(2044) Wirt Mars-crossing Asteroid

Discovered on 8 November 1950 by C. A. Wirtanen at Mount Hamilton.

Named in honor of Carl A. Wirtanen, known for his discovery of several comets and minor planets and for his contribution to the Shane-Wirtanen survey of galaxies. He contributed to astrometric and other programs of the Lick Observatory for 33 years, including the proper-motion program with respect to galaxies. Name proposed by A. R. Klemola.Naming citation (MPC 5688), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Wirt is today

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Wirt is 3.05 au from the Sun and 2.94 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number	2044
Provisional designation	1950 VE
Orbit class	Mars-crossing Asteroid
Diameter	6.66 km (#8,048 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo	0.191
Rotation period	3.69 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.12
Orbital period	3.67 years
Semi-major axis	2.38 au
Perihelion – aphelion	1.56 – 3.20 au
Eccentricity	0.345
Inclination	24.0°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)	0.650 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Carl

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← (2043) Ortutay · (2045) Peking →