(469366) Watkins Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 11 August 2001 by NEAT at Haleakala.
Michael Watkins (b. 1963) was Manager of JPL's Science Division from 2013-2015. He personally created a new vision for the Division, set the standard for scientific and strategic leadership and guided the Science Division in providing that leadership to JPL. In 2016, he became the ninth director of JPL.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2018-10-26), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Watkins is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Watkins is 1.40 au from the Sun and 0.887 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 469366 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 PH13 |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 18.36 |
| Orbital period | 5.03 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.94 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.34 – 4.53 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.544 |
| Inclination | 11.1° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.361 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
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