20344

20344 is a small asteroid in the main asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on October 26, 1998, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program, an initiative funded by NASA and operated by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The asteroid is named after the year of its discovery, with the "20" indicating its position in the sequence of discoveries made in that year.

20344 is classified as a member of the Flora family, a group of stony asteroids that make up a significant portion of the main asteroid belt. These asteroids are believed to be remnants from the early solar system, composed primarily of silicates and metals. The exact dimensions of 20344 are not precisely known, but estimates suggest it has a diameter of approximately 2.5 kilometers.

Orbiting the Sun at an average distance of about 2.3 astronomical units (AU), 20344 takes roughly 3.5 years to complete one orbit. Its orbit is relatively stable, with a low inclination of around 10 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, meaning it does not come close to the orbits of the inner planets. This makes it a non-threatening object in terms of potential Earth impacts.

Asteroid 20344 has been studied primarily through ground-based telescopes and space-based observatories, such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). These observations have helped scientists refine its orbital parameters and estimate its physical properties, including its size and composition. While not a focus of extensive research, it serves as one of many objects contributing to our understanding of the asteroid belt and the early solar system.