(20159) Snead Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 7 October 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.
Christopher J. Snead (b. 1973) is an American planetary scientist and the NASA Hayabusa2 Sample Curator. An expert in small-particle manipulation, he developed advanced micro-handling techniques essential for analyzing sub-millimeter grains from asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, preserving their scientific integrity for future generations.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 6, #9, 13), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Snead is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Snead is 2.58 au from the Sun and 2.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20159 |
| Provisional designation | 1996 TM28 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.23 km (#16,720 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.467 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.12 |
| Orbital period | 3.60 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.35 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.07 – 2.63 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.119 |
| Inclination | 6.87° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.06 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christopher
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All asteroids named after someone called Christopher