1721 Wells

1721 Wells, provisional designation 1953 TD₃, is a dark asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 44 kilometers in diameter.

1721 Wells

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Indiana University (Indiana Asteroid Program)
Discovery site	Goethe Link Obs.
Discovery date	3 October 1953
Designations
MPC designation	(1721) Wells
Named after	Herman Wells (Indiana University)[2]
Alternative designations	1953 TD3 · 1944 DA 1958 QE · A905 CG
Minor planet category	main-belt · (outer)
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	112.13 yr (40,957 days)
Aphelion	3.2969 AU
Perihelion	3.0049 AU
Semi-major axis	3.1509 AU
Eccentricity	0.0463
Orbital period (sidereal)	5.59 yr (2,043 days)
Mean anomaly	101.64°
Inclination	16.107°
Longitude of ascending node	317.29°
Argument of perihelion	137.52°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	43.576±0.166 km[3]
Geometric albedo	0.045±0.005[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	10.9[1]

It was discovered on 3 October 1953, by Indiana University's (IU) Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, United States.^[4] It was named after IU president and chancellor Herman B Wells.^[2]

Orbit and classification

Wells orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 3.0–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 7 months (2,043 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic.^[1]

First identified as A905 CG at Heidelberg in 1905, Well's first used observation was taken at Turku in 1944, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 9 years prior to its official discovery observation.^[4]

Physical characteristics

According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Wells measures 43.576 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.045.^[3] It has an absolute magnitude of 10.9.^[1] As of 2017, Well's spectral type, rotation period and shape remain unknown.

Naming

This minor planet was named in honor of Herman B Wells (1902–2000) chancellor and president of IU. During this time, Wells fostered higher education nationally and internationally.^[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 15 June 1973 (M.P.C. 3508).^[5]