37655 Illapa (provisional designation ) is a carbonaceous asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 1.5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 1 August 1994 by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States.
Orbit and classification On 16 August 2003, Illapa made a close approach to Earth of .
Physical characteristics Illapa has an estimated diameter of 0.8 to 1.8 kilometers for an assumed geometric albedo between 0.20 and 0.04. For an assumed albedo of 0.057, which is typical for carbonaceous C-type asteroids, and an absolute magnitude of 17.9, the asteroid has a calculated mean diameter of 1.5 kilometers. The body has a short rotation period of 2.6556 hours.
Naming This minor planet was named after Illapa (Apu Illapu), the thunder or weather god from Inca mythology.
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