(20224) Johnrae Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 May 1997 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
John Rae (1813–1893) was a Scottish explorer who searched successfully for the Northern Passage, a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His report on the missing ships from the Franklin expedition was not appreciated by the British Admiralty, due to evidence of cannibalism by some of the survivors.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #9, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Johnrae is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Johnrae is 3.12 au from the Sun and 3.90 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20224 |
| Provisional designation | 1997 JR13 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 12.5 km (#3,893 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0540 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.62 |
| Orbital period | 5.81 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.23 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.12 – 3.34 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0345 |
| Inclination | 9.00° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.12 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called John
- (3882) Johncox
- (3893) DeLaeter
- (4089) Galbraith
- (4147) Lennon
- (4525) Johnbauer
- (4656) Huchra
- (4987) Flamsteed
- (5207) Hearnshaw
- (5216) Cannizzo
- (5362) Johnyoung
- (5517) Johnerogers
- (5558) Johnnapier
All asteroids named after someone called John
Also discovered on 3 May 1997
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- (9446) Cicero
- (9447) Julesbordet
- (10612) Houffalize
- (11349) Witten
- (12052) Aretaon
- (12490) Leiden
- (12491) Musschenbroek
- (12492) Tanais
- (12845) Crick
- (13211) Stucky
- (13212) Jayleno