(20177) Richardallen Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 13 December 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Richard Hinckley Allen (1838–1908) was an American amateur astronomer, naturalist, and writer. He is best known for Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, the first major English-language monograph to systematically document the etymology of star names, constellation histories, and associated folklore.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #16, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Richardallen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Richardallen is 2.63 au from the Sun and 2.14 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20177 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 XP29 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 6.93 km (#7,741 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0560 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.72 |
| Orbital period | 4.33 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.66 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.63 – 2.69 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0117 |
| Inclination | 3.62° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.63 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Richard
- (4143) Huziak
- (4252) Godwin
- (5391) Emmons
- (5567) Durisen
- (6368) Richardmenendez
- (6893) Sanderson
- (7392) Kowalski
- (7845) Mckim
- (7966) Richardbaum
- (8331) Dawkins
- (8717) Richviktorov
- (9725) Wainscoat
All asteroids named after someone called Richard