37981

37981 is a main‑belt asteroid that orbits the Sun between the 2.2 and 2.5 astronomical unit (AU) range. Its orbit is moderately eccentric, with an eccentricity of 0.12, and it is inclined by about 4½ degrees relative to the ecliptic plane. The orbital period is approximately 3.5 years (1,280 days), placing it within the inner part of the asteroid belt. Its physical properties indicate a stony composition, with a diameter estimated at roughly 5.3 kilometers based on albedo measurements from infrared surveys.

The asteroid was discovered on 15 March 1996 by the Lincoln Near‑Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) facility at Socorro, New Mexico. The discovery observations were made using a 1.0‑m telescope equipped with a CCD camera, capturing the moving object against a background of stars. Following its discovery, 37981 was assigned the provisional designation 1996 EE22 before receiving its permanent number.

In 2001, 37981 was officially named after Dr. Eleanor Highsmith, a prominent astronomer known for her work on asteroid spectroscopy and the development of photometric techniques for determining albedo. Dr. Highsmith's contributions to the study of small bodies in the Solar System earned the naming honor, as approved by the International Astronomical Union. The naming citation highlights her role in advancing knowledge of asteroidal composition and surface properties.

Observations have shown that 37981 displays a relatively stable light curve with a rotation period near 6 hours. No significant missions have visited the asteroid, and it remains a typical example of the large population of kilometer‑scale objects that populate the inner asteroid belt.