Martes is asteroid #5026 and also known as 1987 QL₁. Martes’ orbit is characterized by a semi-major axis of 2.38 Astronomical Units, an eccentricity of 0.24, a period of revolution of 1 341 days, and an inclination of 4.3 degrees. Martes is of the type C. These parameters are important because Martes is the head of an asteroid-subfamily within the asteroid-family Erigone. Martes was discovered by the Czech astronomer Antonín Mrkos at the Kleť Observatory (Hvězdárna Kleť ).

Martes is named after the biological genus Martes. The pine marten (Martes martes) and the beech marten (Martes foina) belong to this genus. These species live in the forests near the Kleť Observatory, from where the asteroid was discovered.

Martes is named after a biological genus, but in this case not because it would be an endangered species. This is an exception. Martes caught my attention because I have martens on the attic and this since many years. The martens are unnerving and this situation meanwhile lasts for over a decade. The attic already became unusable and I wonder whether this situation can change ever again. I’m on the other hand glad that the martens prefer to wreak havoc on the attic over doing this to my car. So I looked where asteroid #5026 is to find in my natal chart. My natal Martes is in Capricorn in a square with my natal Uranus. This really confirms that martens annoy and unnerve me. Martens are a terrible pest, but may in some countries, including Germany, not be hunted. Martes simply represents the biological genus of martens and whatever you can experience with these animals.