956962

956962 is a numbered minor planet that was discovered on 13 March 2016 by the Pan-STARRS 1 survey at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii. The discovery was made as part of the survey's effort to discover and catalog trans-Neptunian and main-belt objects. Following its initial observation, follow‑up measurements were obtained by several observatories, allowing its orbit to be calculated with high precision.

The object orbits within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Its current orbital parameters place it in the central region of the belt, with a semi‑major axis of approximately 2.44 astronomical units, an eccentricity of about 0.18, and an inclination of roughly 6.3 degrees relative to the ecliptic. Its orbital period is approximately 3.78 Earth years (or 1,380 days). The Minor Planet Center currently lists 956962's absolute magnitude as roughly 16.8, indicating a diameter of about 1.5 kilometers, assuming a typical albedo for S‑type asteroids.

Preliminary photometric observations suggest that 956962 has a spectral type consistent with stony S‑class asteroids, although a definitive classification has not yet been published. No significant non‑gravitational forces, such as the Yarkovsky effect, have been detected at present, and no close approaches to Earth have been predicted. The asteroid remains unobserved for spacecraft encounters or close visits at present.

Future observations, including more detailed spectral work and possible radar imaging, may refine the physical and compositional understanding of 956962 and its place within the broader evolutionary context of the main‑belt population.