2020 VT1 explained

Minorplanet:yes
Background:
  1. FFC2E0
Discovery Ref: 
Discoverer:Pan-STARRS1
Discovered:10 November 2020
Orbit Ref: 
Epoch:31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty:65
Observation Arc:24 days
Perihelion:1.2687 AU
Semimajor:1.5231 AU
Eccentricity:0.1670
Period:1.88 yr (687 d)
Mean Motion: / day
Inclination:18.717°
Asc Node:50.169°
Arg Peri:296.19°
Moid:0.3504AU
Abs Magnitude:22.92123.0

is a small asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Amor group, that is a temporary horseshoe companion to Mars.

Discovery

was discovered on 10 November 2020, by J. Bulger, K. Chambers, T. Lowe, A. Schultz, and M. Willman observingfor the survey conducted by Pan-STARRS at Haleakalā Observatory, Hawaii. As of 20 January 2021, it has been observed 28 times with an observation arc of 24 days.

Orbit and orbital evolution

is currently an Amor asteroid, a subgroup of the near-Earth objects that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.3–1.8 AU once every 23 months (687 days; semi-major axis of 1.52 AU). Its orbit has a moderate eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 19° with respect to the ecliptic. It is most notable for its horseshoe orbit, a complex co-orbital motion with Mars, as both bodies have similar semi-major axes. The object can also be classified as a Mars-crosser, intersecting the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.

Mars trojan

(leading):

(trailing):

References

Further reading

External links