(188809) Philgroves Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 25 November 2005 by CSS at Catalina.
Phil Groves (b. 1957) is an American filmmaker who conceived, researched, wrote, and co-produced the IMAX film Asteroid Hunters. His work has introduced and explained the field of planetary defense to the world and highlighted how asteroid scientists and engineers work to defend our planet from impact threats.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 5, #21, 10), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Philgroves is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Philgroves is 2.58 au from the Sun and 1.72 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 188809 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 WX181 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.47 |
| Orbital period | 4.22 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.61 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.53 – 2.70 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0329 |
| Inclination | 5.17° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.54 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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All asteroids named after someone called Phil
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