| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
| Discovery date | 7 February 2016 |
| Designations | |
| 2016 CP31 | |
Martian L5  | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 1652 days (4.52 yr) |
| Aphelion | 1.61311791 AU (241.319005 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 1.4341118 AU (214.54007 Gm) |
| 1.52361487 AU (227.929540 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0587439 |
| 1.88 yr (686.92802 d) | |
| 122.0549° | |
| 0° 31m 26.661s /day | |
| Inclination | 23.130505° |
| 154.488290° | |
| 329.2083° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.455015 AU (68.0693 Gm) |
| Jupiter MOID | 3.39497 AU (507.880 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 400 m | |
| 0.5-0.05 (assumed) | |
| 19.5 | |
2016 CP31 is a small asteroid and Mars trojan orbiting near the L5 point of Mars (60 degrees behind Mars on its orbit).[2][3][4]
2016 CP31 was first observed on 7 February 2016 by the Catalina Sky Survey; the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope system at Haleakala had imaged this object on 14 January 2016 without identifying it as an asteroid.[5] Its orbit is characterized by low eccentricity (0.059), moderate inclination (23.1°) and a semi-major axis of 1.52 AU.[5] Upon discovery, it was classified as Mars-crosser by the Minor Planet Center. Its orbit is well determined as it is currently (January 2021) based on 131 observations with a data-arc span of 1652 days.[1] 2016 CP31 has an absolute magnitude of 19.5 which gives a characteristic diameter of 400 m.[1]
Recent calculations indicate that it is a stable L5 Mars trojan.[2] It may not be a member of the so-called Eureka family.[citation needed]
