(20037) Duke Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 20 October 1992 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M. at Palomar.
Michael B. Duke (b. 1935) is a scholar of distinction on lunar, Mars and meteorite research, with a broad perspective and knowledge of the history of space exploration. Curator of the lunar samples returned from the moon, he moved on to become chief of the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Division of the Johnson Spacecraft Center.Naming citation (20030501/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
👶 Duke as a baby name🐶 Duke as a dog name🐱 Duke as a cat name
Where Duke is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Duke is 1.97 au from the Sun and 1.70 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20037 |
| Provisional designation | 1992 UW4 |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Diameter | 1.80 km (#17,219 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.547 |
| Rotation period | 13.9 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.3 |
| Orbital period | 2.59 years |
| Semi-major axis | 1.88 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.66 – 2.11 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.121 |
| Inclination | 22.5° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.778 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
- (3192) A'Hearn
- (4477) Kelley
- (4599) Rowan
- (5373) Michaelkurtz
- (5554) Keesey
- (5569) Colby
- (6406) Mikejura
- (6569) Ondaatje
- (7738) Heyman
- (7936) Mikemagee
- (8032) Michaeladams
- (8129) Michaelbusch
All asteroids named after someone called Michael