17257

17257 (provisional designation 2001 QK2) is a stony asteroid orbiting the Sun within the central region of the main asteroid belt. It was discovered on 1 November 2001 by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico. The asteroid is approximately 6–8 kilometres in diameter, as estimated from its absolute magnitude of 13.5 and an assumed albedo of 0.20. Its mean orbital elements, calculated as of 2023, indicate a semi‑major axis of 2.44 astronomical units, an eccentricity of 0.097, and an inclination of 9.6 degrees relative to the ecliptic. The orbital period is about 3.80 Earth years (1,387 days). 17257's orbit places it in the inner portion of the central belt, and it does not belong to any identified asteroid family, suggesting a primordial origin.

The asteroid has not yet been given a formal name, remaining identified only by its numerical designation. Observations have been made through ground‑based optical telescopes, and photometric data suggest a rotation period of approximately 8.3 hours, though the light‑curve amplitude has not been firmly established. The relatively well‑constrained orbit permits routine monitoring by both professional and amateur astronomers. As of the latest JPL Small‑Body Database update, no spacecraft fly‑by or land‑ing missions have targeted 17257.