Key Facts

Overview

Pels is a mid-sized asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in the main portion of the asteroid belt. NASA JPL has not classified Pels as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

Pels orbits the sun every 1,180 days (3.23 years), coming as close as 1.85 AU and reaching as far as 2.53 AU from the sun. Pels is about 9.0 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay.

The rotation of Pels has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.27 hours.

Pels's spectral type None (Tholen) / Sa (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .

No Close Approaches

Pels's orbit is 0.83 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

Pels's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 16, 1930. It was last officially observed on July 3, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 5,040 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of Pels:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.19 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.156
  • Inclination: 4.62°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 80.83°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 195.89°
  • Mean Anomaly: 302.58°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 8.99800 km
  • Magnitude: 11.97
  • Albedo: 0.455
  • Spectral type (SMASS): Sa

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,180 days (3.23 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.19 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.53 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.85 AU
  • Rotation Period: 3.27 hours
  • Approx. Composition: and .

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Pels is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.