(270903) Pakstiene Outer Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 October 2002 by K. Cernis at Palomar.
Lithuanian astronomer Erika Pakštienė (b. 1971) is an expert in stellar photometry of variable stars, eclipsing binaries, transiting exoplanets, microlensed objects, and rotating asteroids. Known for her work in asteroseismology of variable stars, she has authored more than 80 scientific papers and written many popular science articles.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #12, 5), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pakstiene is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pakstiene is 3.17 au from the Sun and 2.27 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 270903 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 TO303 |
| Orbit class | Outer Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.0 |
| Orbital period | 5.86 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.25 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 3.16 – 3.34 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0279 |
| Inclination | 9.69° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 2.18 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Erika
- (20367) Erikagibb
- (23131) Debenedictis
- (31175) Erikafuchs
- (33897) Erikagreen
- (35435) Erikayang
- (612477) Csorgeierika
- (693043) Suhay
All asteroids named after someone called Erika
Also discovered on 5 October 2002
- (84342) Rubensdeazevedo
- (84417) Ritabo
- (133007) Audreysimmons
- (133008) Snedden
- (142754) Brunner
- (142755) Castander
- (142756) Chiu
- (142757) Collinge
- (163623) Miknaitis
- (166748) Timrayschneider
- (170007) Strateva
- (170008) Michaelstrauss