23359

23359 is a minor planet located in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on October 16, 1977, by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at the Palomar Observatory in California. The asteroid was named after the Chinese character "三" (sān), which means "three," reflecting its catalog number, as the number 23359 is composed of the digits 2, 3, and 5, with 3 being the central digit.

23359 belongs to the Flora family of asteroids, a group named after 8 Flora, the largest member. This family is characterized by its rocky composition and relatively low orbital inclination. The asteroid has an estimated diameter of approximately 2.5 kilometers and orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 2.3 astronomical units (AU), taking roughly 3.5 years to complete one orbit.

Due to its relatively small size and distance from Earth, 23359 is not considered a significant threat. It has not been extensively studied, and its physical properties, such as surface composition or rotation period, remain largely unknown. Observations have primarily focused on its orbital characteristics rather than detailed analysis.

23359 is not associated with any known missions or notable events in space exploration. It remains an unremarkable but scientifically interesting object for astronomers studying the distribution and dynamics of asteroids in the main belt. Its naming convention, tied to the Chinese character, also highlights the cultural significance of numerical symbolism in different traditions.