(20158) Allton Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 October 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Judith H. Allton (b. 1946) is an American contamination-control expert who served as the NASA Genesis Sample Curator. She managed the preservation and distribution of solar-wind samples, pioneering the cleaning techniques necessary to salvage the collection after the return capsule's impact.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #9, 13), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Allton is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Allton is 2.09 au from the Sun and 3.08 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20158 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 TD21 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.6 |
| Orbital period | 3.53 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.32 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.09 – 2.55 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0988 |
| Inclination | 1.86° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.08 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Judith
All asteroids named after someone called Judith
Also discovered on 5 October 1996
- (8725) Keiko
- (13185) Agasthenes
- (19303) Chinacyo
- (19304) Yoshidaseiko
- (20150) Changshuhong
- (20151) Utsunomiya
- (21284) Pandion
- (35283) Bradtimerson
- (79333) Yusaku