30421

30421 is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on February 28, 1999, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project, a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, NASA, and the U.S. Air Force. The asteroid is part of the Flora family, a group of asteroids that share similar orbital characteristics and are believed to have originated from a single parent body that was disrupted by a collision.

The numerical designation 30421 indicates its sequential discovery order among minor planets. As of the latest available data, 30421 has an estimated diameter of approximately 5.5 kilometers and an orbital period of about 3.5 years. Its orbit is moderately inclined to the ecliptic plane, and it has an eccentricity of around 0.15, indicating a relatively circular orbit.

The Flora family, to which 30421 belongs, is one of the largest groups of asteroids in the main belt. These asteroids are characterized by their spectral properties, which suggest a common composition, likely consisting of silicate minerals. The Flora family is thought to have formed from the breakup of a larger parent body, possibly due to a catastrophic collision.

30421, like other asteroids in the Flora family, provides valuable insights into the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. Studying these objects helps astronomers understand the dynamics of the asteroid belt, the formation and evolution of planetary bodies, and the potential hazards posed by near-Earth asteroids.