(20993) Virginiediscry Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 5 September 1985 by H. Debehogne at La Silla.
Marie-Virginie Discry (1812–1865) was the spouse of Belgian astronomer and geodetic surveyor Jean-Charles Houzeau, who sailed to New Orleans in 1857, but was caught in the American Civil War. She took care of all his scientific needs by administering and forwarding his scientific correspondence from Brussels to his ever changing locations in the US.Naming citation (WGSBN Bull. 4, #2, 6), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Virginiediscry is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Virginiediscry is 2.74 au from the Sun and 3.05 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 20993 |
| Provisional designation | 1985 RX2 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 2.73 km (#15,806 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.217 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 15.34 |
| Orbital period | 3.62 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.36 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.89 – 2.83 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.199 |
| Inclination | 1.79° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.876 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 5 September 1985
- (3456) Etiennemarey
- (3457) Arnenordheim
- (4599) Rowan
- (4627) Pinomogavero
- (8818) Hermannbondi
- (20992) Marypearse
- (48411) Johnventre