(17970) Palepu Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 10 May 1999 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Sita Chandrika Palepu (b. 1985) was awarded first place and Best in Category in the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for her behavioral and social sciences project. She attends the James Madison High School, Vienna, Virginia, U.S.A.Naming citation (20040614/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Palepu is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Palepu is 1.94 au from the Sun and 2.80 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 17970 |
| Provisional designation | 1999 JA48 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 3.02 km (#15,178 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.194 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.56 |
| Orbital period | 3.42 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.27 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.93 – 2.61 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.150 |
| Inclination | 5.11° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.921 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 10 May 1999
- (11219) Benbohn
- (11225) Borden
- (11227) Ksenborisova
- (11228) Botnick
- (11229) Brookebowers
- (11230) Deschaffer
- (11231) Schiavo
- (11413) Catanach
- (11414) Allanchu
- (12117) Meagmessina
- (16048) Eddiedai
- (16049) D'Amore