1721 Wells

1721 Wells, provisional designation, is a dark asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 44 kilometers in diameter.
It was discovered on 3 October 1953, by Indiana University's Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, United States. It was named after IU president and chancellor Herman B Wells.

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. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic.
First identified as at Heidelberg in 1905, Wells first used observation was taken at Turku in 1944, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 9 years prior to its official discovery observation.

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. It has an absolute magnitude of 10.9. As of 2017, Wells spectral type, rotation period and shape remain unknown.

This minor planet was named in honor of Herman B Wells chancellor and president of IU. During this time, Wells fostered higher education nationally and internationally. The official was published by the Minor [Planet Center] on 15 June 1973.