493957

493957 is a numbered minor planet located in the central region of the main asteroid belt. The object was discovered on 16 January 2017 by the Pan‑STARRS 1 survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, and was given the provisional designation 2017 AQ12 before its orbit was sufficiently well determined to receive a permanent number. Its orbital elements place it in the background population of the main belt: the semi‑major axis is 2.83 AU, the eccentricity is 0.06, the inclination relative to the ecliptic is 4.2°, and the orbital period is approximately 4.25 years. The asteroid's perihelion lies at 2.66 AU and its aphelion at 3.00 AU. A geometric albedo of about 0.12 has been assumed, which yields an estimated diameter of roughly 7 km. Photometric observations indicate a rotation period close to 8.5 hours, but the rotational light curve amplitude has not been published in detail. Spectral classification and compositional data are not yet available, so the asteroid is generally classified as an S‑type based on its albedo and typical main‑belt characteristics. As of 2023, the Minor Planet Center has not assigned an official name to 493957, and it remains referred to by its numeric designation.