(20418) Josephjao Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 21 September 1998 by E. W. Elst at La Silla.
Joseph S. Jao (b. 1960) is an American engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He develops radar imaging and radio-science systems for studies of asteroids, planets, and the Moon, and supports operations of the Goldstone Solar System Radar.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 19), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Josephjao is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Josephjao is 2.79 au from the Sun and 3.69 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20418 |
| Provisional designation | 1998 SH71 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.43 |
| Orbital period | 3.70 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.39 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.99 – 2.79 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.168 |
| Inclination | 2.90° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.00 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Joseph
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- (4225) Hobart
- (5034) Joeharrington
- (5577) Priestley
- (5883) Josephblack
- (6540) Stepling
- (6743) Liu
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- (8023) Josephwalker
- (8255) Masiero
- (8661) Ratzinger
- (8794) Joepatterson
All asteroids named after someone called Joseph
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