34660

34660 is a minor planet located in the outer region of the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on November 16, 2001, by astronomers at the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program, a collaborative project between NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The asteroid was officially named after its provisional designation, though it has not been assigned a specific name in the Minor Planet Center’s database.

34660 orbits the Sun at an average distance of approximately 3.1 astronomical units (AU), completing one full revolution roughly every 5.5 years. Its orbit is moderately inclined at about 10 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, and it has an eccentricity of around 0.15, meaning its path is slightly elongated. The asteroid’s diameter is estimated to be between 2 and 4 kilometers, though precise measurements remain uncertain.

Due to its location in the asteroid belt, 34660 is classified as a main-belt asteroid rather than a near-Earth object. It does not pose any known threat to Earth, as its orbit remains stable and distant. Little is known about its physical properties, such as composition or surface characteristics, though it is likely composed of silicate materials typical of many asteroids in its region.

Research on 34660 is limited, as it is not among the most studied celestial bodies. However, it serves as an example of the countless minor planets that populate the asteroid belt, contributing to our understanding of the solar system’s formation and evolution. Observations of such objects help astronomers refine models of planetary dynamics and the distribution of matter in the early solar system.