(20992) Marypearse Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 September 1985 by H. Debehogne at La Silla.
Mary Pearse (1802–1861) was the spouse of Thomas Maclear at the Cape of Good Hope where, between 1841 and 1848, he was fully occupied with the geodetic survey of the Cape Colony. Mary gave him strong support throughout his long absences. She and her husband are buried together in the grounds of the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #2, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Marypearse is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Marypearse is 2.90 au from the Sun and 3.78 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20992 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 RV2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.10 km (#12,504 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0620 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.58 |
| Orbital period | 3.57 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.34 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.77 – 2.90 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.242 |
| Inclination | 5.90° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.769 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Mary
- (4793) Slessor
- (5595) Roth
- (6603) Marycragg
- (7091) Maryfields
- (7958) Leakey
- (9824) Marylea
- (10870) Gwendolen
- (11369) Brazelton
- (12590) Ballantine
- (12627) Maryedwards
- (12628) Acworthorr
- (13412) Guerrieri
All asteroids named after someone called Mary
Also discovered on 5 September 1985
- (3456) Etiennemarey
- (3457) Arnenordheim
- (4599) Rowan
- (4627) Pinomogavero
- (8818) Hermannbondi
- (20993) Virginiediscry
- (48411) Johnventre