(20509) Mariavarela Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 September 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
María Varela (b. 1961) is an Argentinean geologist and cosmochemist. Author of the book Meteoritos, restos rocosos del Sistema Solar primitivo, her studies include the physicochemical conditions of chondrule formation, and the relationship between iron meteorites and achondrites. María is a leading expert in meteorite classification in Latin America.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #11, 25), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mariavarela is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mariavarela is 3.52 au from the Sun and 3.43 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20509 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 RL26 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 9.91 km (#5,152 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0500 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.68 |
| Orbital period | 5.66 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.17 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.81 – 3.54 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.115 |
| Inclination | 5.74° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.83 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Maria
- (4555) Josefaperez
- (6635) Zuber
- (7026) Gabrielasilang
- (7722) Firneis
- (9013) Sansaturio
- (9815) Mariakirch
- (9822) Hajdukova
- (10924) Mariagriffin
- (11517) Esteracuna
- (12005) Delgiudice
- (12624) Mariacunitia
- (13760) Rodriguez
All asteroids named after someone called Maria
Also discovered on 7 September 1999
- (12126) Chersidamas
- (12577) Samra
- (12578) Bensaur
- (12585) Katschwarz
- (12586) Juliaspeyer
- (12588) Arseneau
- (12604) Lisatate
- (12924) Madisonicole
- (13818) Ullery
- (14214) Hirsch
- (15503) Estradioto
- (16067) Brandonfan