(20149) Huh Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 October 1996 by NEAT at Haleakala.
Michael Huh (b. 1987) is an American scientist and the NASA Cold Curation Lead. He directs the development of advanced cryogenic infrastructure and handling techniques required for future sample-return missions, ensuring that volatile-rich samples from the lunar South Pole and beyond are preserved in their pristine, frozen state.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #9, 13), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Huh is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Huh is 2.42 au from the Sun and 3.24 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20149 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 TX3 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.02 km (#15,149 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.403 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.4 |
| Orbital period | 3.55 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.33 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.10 – 2.56 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0985 |
| Inclination | 6.07° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.09 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
Also discovered on 8 October 1996
- (11623) Kagekatu
- (14519) Ural
- (15372) Agrigento
- (20160) Annalosiak
- (21276) Feller
- (26922) Samara
- (85400) Shiratakachu