(42531) McKenna Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 5 June 1995 by D. J. Asher at Siding Spring.
Martin McKenna (b. 1978) was named 2005 Astronomer of the Year by the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies. An avid visual comet hunter and all-round observer, he also undertakes a photographic search for novae. The name was suggested by J. C. McConnell.Naming citation (20060413/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
👶 McKenna as a baby name🐶 McKenna as a dog name
Where McKenna is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: McKenna is 1.76 au from the Sun and 2.59 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 42531 |
| Provisional designation | 1995 LJ |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.23 |
| Orbital period | 3.51 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.31 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.55 – 3.06 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.328 |
| Inclination | 7.09° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.536 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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