(37159) Margaretmead Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 November 2000 by W. K. Y. Yeung at Desert Beaver.
Margaret Mead (1901–1978) was an American cultural anthropologist whose work brought wide public attention to culture, childhood, kinship and human social life. Her legacy is often linked with the idea that care for the vulnerable lies near the roots of civilization.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #10, 9), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Margaretmead is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Margaretmead is 2.97 au from the Sun and 3.26 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 37159 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 WX |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.21 km (#8,630 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0870 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.4 |
| Orbital period | 5.52 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.12 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.57 – 3.67 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.177 |
| Inclination | 1.48° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.57 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Margaret
- (8353) Megryan
- (8632) Egleston
- (10739) Lowman
- (12317) Madicampbell
- (22038) Margarshain
- (22725) Drabble
- (46270) Margaretlandis
- (49777) Cappi
- (50725) Margarethuggins
- (70030) Margaretmiller
- (117385) Maughan
- (119195) Margaretgreer
All asteroids named after someone called Margaret