Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

(101429) 1998 VF31

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Discovered by
  
LINEAR

Observation arc
  
7056 days (19.32 yr)

Inclination
  
31.295943°

Discovery site
  
Socorro

Discovery date
  
13 November 1998

Discovered
  
13 November 1998

Orbits
  
Sun

Asteroid group
  
Asteroid belt

(101429) 1998 VF31

Minor planet category
  
Martian L5 , Mars-crossing asteroid

Aphelion
  
1.6771808 AU (250.90268 Gm)

Perihelion
  
1.3711043 AU (205.11428 Gm)

Discoverer
  
Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research

Similar
  
2007 WD5, 5261 Eureka, Solar System, C/2013 A1, Sun

(101429) 1998 VF31 is a small asteroid that orbits near Mars's L5 Lagrangian point, on average trailing 60° behind it. Its orbit is highly stable, and was originally thought to be spectroscopically similar to 5261 Eureka, suggesting they may both be primordial Martian asteroids.

Spectroscopic observations through 2007 indicate that it has a large proportion of metal and achondrites on its surface (either with or without a mesosiderite contribution); which could also indicate that the surface regolith has undergone space weathering. These observations also reveal differences in the spectra with 5261 Eureka, suggesting they may not be related to each other after all.

References

(101429) 1998 VF31 Wikipedia


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