196061

196061 is the numerical designation for a minor planet in the Solar System. Minor planets are small rocky, metallic, or icy bodies that orbit the Sun and are too small to be considered full-fledged planets. After a new object is observed, it is given a provisional designation and tracked over time. When sufficient astrometric data exist to determine an orbit with confidence, the object is assigned a permanent number by the Minor Planet Center; 196061 is one such numbered object. The name of the body, if any, is determined later by its discoverers and approved by the International Astronomical Union.

In terms of orbit, 196061 has a documented trajectory that places it among the cataloged Solar System bodies; its orbital elements are published in major databases and are updated as observations accrue. These data include its approximate distance from the Sun, orbital inclination, and period, though precise values are found in official catalogs rather than in this summary. Physical characteristics like diameter, albedo, and spectral type are only known for a subset of numbered minor planets; for 196061, detailed measurements may be absent or limited to basic photometric observations.

References: The Minor Planet Center (MPC) and NASA/JPL Small-Body Database are the primary sources for current information about 196061.