(20493) Lutzhecht Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 16 July 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Lutz J. Hecht (b. 1962) is a German mineralogist at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin engaged in impact and micrometeorite studies. He led and coordinated a search for the Ribbeck meteorite near Berlin, an observed fall in January 2024.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 24), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Lutzhecht is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Lutzhecht is 2.28 au from the Sun and 2.18 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20493 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 OD5 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.96 |
| Orbital period | 4.56 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.75 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.21 – 3.29 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.196 |
| Inclination | 14.6° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.22 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Lutz
All asteroids named after someone called Lutz
Also discovered on 16 July 1999
- (19614) Montelongo
- (20491) Ericstrege
- (20492) Luanaliberato
- (38237) Roche
- (59793) Clapies
- (86043) Cevennes
- (91422) Giraudon
- (159409) Ratte