(68948) Mikeoates Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 8 August 2002 by S. F. Hoenig at Palomar.
Through 2003 Michael Oates (b. 1957) has been the most successful SOHO comet hunter. Using his personal computer and fast Internet connections to scan through the SOHO LASCO image archive, he is credited with 138 near-sun comet discoveries.Naming citation (20040107/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Mikeoates is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Mikeoates is 2.81 au from the Sun and 1.82 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 68948 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 PX157 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.81 km (#13,198 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0700 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.92 |
| Orbital period | 4.67 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.79 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.69 – 2.90 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0368 |
| Inclination | 1.21° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.67 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Michael
- (3192) A'Hearn
- (4477) Kelley
- (4599) Rowan
- (5373) Michaelkurtz
- (5554) Keesey
- (5569) Colby
- (6406) Mikejura
- (6569) Ondaatje
- (7738) Heyman
- (7936) Mikemagee
- (8032) Michaeladams
- (8129) Michaelbusch
All asteroids named after someone called Michael
Also discovered on 8 August 2002
- (68947) Brunofunk
- (73491) Robmatson
- (78386) Deuzelur
- (78391) Michaeljager
- (78393) Dillon
- (84075) Peterpatricia
- (112798) Kelindsey
- (132798) Kurti
- (142014) Neirinck