3552 Don Quixote is a small Amor, Mars-crossing, Jupiter-crossing, potentially hazardous asteroid. It has a highly inclined comet-like orbit, and measures about 19 km in diameter. Its rotation period is 7.7 hours. It was discovered by Paul Wild in 1983, and is named after the comic knight who is the eponymous hero of Cervantes' Spanish novel Don Quixote (1605).
Don Quixote is suspected to be an extinct comet. Don Quixote is frequently perturbed by Jupiter.
Famous quotes containing the words don and/or quixote:
“I know what you’re thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off—you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”
—Harry Fink, U.S. screenwriter, Rita Fink, U.S. screenwriter, Dean Riesner, U.S. screenwriter, and Don Siegel. Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood)
“I wonder, Diz, if this Don Quixote hasn’t got the jump on all of us. Wonder if it isn’t a curse to go wised up like you and me.”
—Sidney Buchman (1902–1975)