(2782) Leonidas Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Where Leonidas is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsLeonidasLeonidas

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Leonidas is 2.34 au from the Sun and 1.36 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number2782
Provisional designation2605 P-L
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter10.6 km (#4,784 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0570
Absolute magnitude (H)13.74
Orbital period4.39 years
Semi-major axis2.68 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.09 – 3.27 au
Eccentricity0.222
Inclination3.78°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.08 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 24 September 1960

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.