(20608) Fredmerlin Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 September 1999 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
Frédéric Merlin (b. 1981) is a planetary scientist at Paris Observatory. He studies transneptunian objects using spectroscopy and surface compositional modeling.Naming citation (20080718/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Fredmerlin is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Fredmerlin is 2.35 au from the Sun and 2.39 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20608 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 RH224 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.24 |
| Orbital period | 3.24 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.19 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.03 – 2.36 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0754 |
| Inclination | 8.64° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.03 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Frederic
- (10343) Church
- (15938) Bohnenblust
- (19354) Fredkoehler
- (20044) Vitoux
- (20552) Moynier
- (23882) Fredcourant
- (177722) Pelletier
- (230151) Vachier
- (301128) Fredericpont
- (333268) Fredseguin
All asteroids named after someone called Frederic
Also discovered on 7 September 1999
- (12126) Chersidamas
- (12577) Samra
- (12578) Bensaur
- (12585) Katschwarz
- (12586) Juliaspeyer
- (12588) Arseneau
- (12604) Lisatate
- (12924) Madisonicole
- (13818) Ullery
- (14214) Hirsch
- (15503) Estradioto
- (16067) Brandonfan