(20882) Paulsanchez Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 3 November 2000 by LINEAR at Socorro.
Diego Paul Sánchez Lana (b. 1976) has applied the physics of granular mechanics to the study of rubble pile asteroids. His work has identified the possible source of asteroid cohesive strength and shown that it plays a fundamental role in the spin fission of asteroids and their pathways to binary asteroid formation.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2019-12-12), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Paulsanchez is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Paulsanchez is 2.39 au from the Sun and 2.72 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20882 |
| Provisional designation | 2000 VH57 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Rotation period | 2.56 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.49 |
| Orbital period | 3.63 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.36 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.78 – 2.95 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.247 |
| Inclination | 2.38° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.779 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Diego
All asteroids named after someone called Diego