(20449) Katiejoy Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 May 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Katherine (Katie) Helen Joy (b. 1981) is a British geologist and Professor of Lunar and Planetary Sciences at the University of Manchester. She is a world-leader in lunar geology and has played a key role in several space missions. Katie is the science lead for the Lost Meteorites of Antarctica program, which successfully recovered 121 new meteorites.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 21), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Katiejoy is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Katiejoy is 2.36 au from the Sun and 2.50 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20449 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 JM108 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.82 km (#15,620 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.292 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.98 |
| Orbital period | 3.64 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.37 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.84 – 2.89 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.223 |
| Inclination | 1.19° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.835 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Helen
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- (23011) Petach
- (24422) Helentressa
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- (30281) Horstman
- (32277) Helenliu
- (33737) Helenlyons
- (71669) Dodsonprince
- (78432) Helensailer
- (111696) Helenorman
- (123818) Helenzier
All asteroids named after someone called Helen
Also discovered on 13 May 1999
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- (11418) Williamwang
- (11743) Jachowski
- (17130) Alexzhang
- (17147) Mariafields
- (17149) Victoriagraf
- (17151) Zanderhill
- (18012) Marsland
- (18013) Shedletsky
- (18015) Semenkovich
- (18016) Grondahl
- (18019) Dascoli