21349

21349 is a numbered minor planet belonging to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on 15 March 1996 by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The discovery image was captured using a 1-m Schmidt telescope equipped with a CCD mosaic camera, which allowed LINEAR to detect faint, slowly moving objects in the twilight sky.

The asteroid follows a nearly circular, plane‑dominated orbit with a semi‑major axis of approximately 2.30 astronomical units. Its eccentricity is moderate, about 0.12, and its orbital inclination relative to the ecliptic plane is roughly 6.5 degrees. The orbital period is around 3.5 years, placing it firmly within the inner region of the main belt.

Physical data from photometric surveys indicate that 21349 has an absolute magnitude of about 14.3, implying a diameter in the range of 5–7 kilometers, assuming a standard albedo for stony asteroids. Its spectral classification, derived from visible–near infrared observations, suggests it is an S-type body, typical of silicate-rich composition.

21349 has not yet been assigned a formal name; its designation remains provisional. Continued observations are required to refine its orbit and to gather additional data on its rotation period, shape, and possible binarity. The asteroid’s discovery adds to the growing catalog of minor planets that help astronomers study the composition and dynamics of the early solar system.