(21330) Alanwhitman Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 11 January 1997 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.

Alan Douglas Whitman (b. 1946) is a Canadian amateur astronomer and former weather service officer. He is a skillful observer and has written and lectured widely. Name suggested by R. and P. Jedicke.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2016-06-20), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL

Where Alanwhitman is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsAlanwhitmanAlanwhitman

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Alanwhitman is 2.84 au from the Sun and 3.73 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number21330
Provisional designation1997 AT20
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter3.39 km (#14,238 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.292
Absolute magnitude (H)14.68
Orbital period4.18 years
Semi-major axis2.59 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.34 – 2.84 au
Eccentricity0.0967
Inclination4.32°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.34 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also named after someone called Alan

Also discovered on 11 January 1997

More named asteroids discovered by Spacewatch