(20406) Jekanthanga Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 August 1998 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Jekan Thanga (b. 1978) is an American-Canadian engineer who leads the SpaceTREX laboratory, focusing on novel approaches to planetary exploration. For four years he led the NASA-sponsored ASTEROIDS undergraduate research and education program training students from diverse backgrounds each year in asteroid and lunar science, and small-mission engineering.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 18), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Jekanthanga is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Jekanthanga is 3.02 au from the Sun and 3.74 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20406 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 QJ13 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 5.27 km (#10,102 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.211 |
| Rotation period | 121 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.75 |
| Orbital period | 5.04 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.94 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.50 – 3.37 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.148 |
| Inclination | 7.32° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.49 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 17 August 1998
- (9474) Cassadrury
- (9476) Vincenthuang
- (9477) Kefennell
- (10635) Chiragkumar
- (11189) Rabeaton
- (11369) Brazelton
- (11370) Nabrown
- (11371) Camley
- (11372) Aditisingh
- (11373) Carbonaro
- (11737) Gregneat
- (12545) Taniamurphy