(20487) Lhotka Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 July 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Christoph Lhotka (b. 1978) is an Austrian professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. His work in celestial mechanics and computer-assisted perturbation theory covers analytical stability estimates for Trojan asteroids as well as rotational and orbital dynamics of celestial objects and interplanetary dust.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 23), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Lhotka is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Lhotka is 2.18 au from the Sun and 2.00 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20487 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 NJ62 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.55 km (#11,526 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.195 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.49 |
| Orbital period | 4.52 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.74 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.16 – 3.31 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.209 |
| Inclination | 8.38° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.17 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christoph
- (5364) Christophschafer
- (6314) Reigber
- (8108) Wieland
- (10839) Hufeland
- (25885) Wiesinger
- (61850) Christophbrunner
- (121016) Christopharnold
- (668527) Christophgerhard
All asteroids named after someone called Christoph
Also discovered on 13 July 1999
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- (11747) Libbykamen
- (12118) Mirotsin
- (12119) Memamis
- (12121) Greenwald
- (12572) Sadegh
- (15501) Pepawlowski
- (18821) Markhavel
- (18836) Raymundto
- (19582) Blow
- (19584) Sarahgerin
- (19585) Zachopkins