215038

215038 is the numerical designation of a minor planet, commonly known as an asteroid, in the solar system. In standard astronomical practice, numbers are assigned by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) after an object's orbit has been sufficiently well determined, and the object may later receive a formal name.

It signifies that the object was the 215,038th minor planet to have its orbit confirmed and cataloged by the MPC.

Discovery details for 215038, including the date of discovery and the observatory or survey that detected it, would be recorded in MPC data. Without consulting those records, specific information about its discovery cannot be provided here.

Naming and designation: If a name is proposed and approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the asteroid would be referred to by that name in addition to its number. If no name is assigned, it is cited solely by its numeric designation.

Orbit and physical characteristics: As a minor planet, 215038 orbits the Sun and resides within the broader population of small bodies in the inner to outer regions of the asteroid belt. Its precise orbital elements and physical properties, such as size and albedo, are determined through observations over time and, where available, infrared measurements.

Significance: The system of numeric designations helps astronomers catalog and track the growing census of minor planets, supporting studies of solar system formation and dynamical evolution.