The alphanumeric string 2017 DB120 does not correspond to a widely recognized concept, object, or term in established reference works. Consequently, there is no dedicated encyclopedic entry for this designation.
Possible Contextual Interpretation
The format of the string is consistent with the provisional designation system used by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) for newly observed small Solar System bodies, such as asteroids. In this system:
- The first four digits indicate the year of discovery (2017).
- The following two‑letter code (DB) encodes the half‑month of discovery and the order of discovery within that half‑month (the letter D corresponds to the second half of February; B is part of the sequential code for the order).
- The trailing number (120) further refines the sequential order when the basic two‑letter code has been exhausted.
If 2017 DB120 follows this convention, it would represent a provisional designation for a minor planet (most likely an asteroid) discovered in the second half of February 2017. Until sufficient observations are obtained to determine a reliable orbit, such objects retain their provisional designations. After confirmation, they may receive a permanent numeric designation (e.g., (XXXXX)) and possibly a name.
Lack of Specific Information
No publicly available, verifiable sources have been identified that provide details such as:
- Discovery date (beyond the generic half‑month indicated by the code)
- Discovering observatory or survey
- Orbital parameters (e.g., semi‑major axis, eccentricity, inclination)
- Physical characteristics (e.g., size, spectral type, albedo)
Therefore, any further description of 2017 DB120 would be speculative.
Summary
- 2017 DB120 appears to be a provisional minor‑planet designation in the MPC system.
- No reliable encyclopedic sources currently document the specific object associated with this designation.
- Consequently, the term is not widely recognized as an established concept in the literature.