(120131) MAVEN Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 26 March 2003 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa.
MAVEN (launched 2013) is a NASA Mars orbiter with a primary mission to study the Mars atmosphere and its evolution. Shortly after arrival at Mars, C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) had a close encounter with the planet. MAVEN observed the aftermath of the comet's intense meteor shower, detecting abundant meteoric metals.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 3, #12, 15), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where MAVEN is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: MAVEN is 3.40 au from the Sun and 2.40 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 120131 |
| Provisional designation | 2003 FX119 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.08 |
| Orbital period | 5.25 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.02 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.59 – 3.45 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.141 |
| Inclination | 0.742° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.58 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 26 March 2003
- (95851) Stromvil
- (120101) Aureladina
- (120102) Lucabenetti
- (127737) Ferretti
- (151834) Mongkut
- (180141) Sperauskas