(20259) Alanhoffman Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 24 March 1998 by ODAS at Caussols.
Alan Hoffman is a pioneer in infrared detectors. He has shared his IR expertise via his annual course, which has trained a generation of scientists and engineers.Naming citation (20051215/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Alanhoffman is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alanhoffman is 2.30 au from the Sun and 3.22 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20259 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 FV10 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.25 |
| Orbital period | 3.52 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.31 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.07 – 2.55 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.103 |
| Inclination | 1.43° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.06 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Alan
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- (9291) Alanburdick
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- (10204) Turing
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- (12431) Webster
All asteroids named after someone called Alan
Also discovered on 24 March 1998
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