Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware (113.68 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

Alcathous is a large asteroid that shares Jupiter's orbit around the sun. NASA JPL has not classified Alcathous as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

Alcathous orbits the sun every 4,300 days (11.77 years), coming as close as 4.84 AU and reaching as far as 5.52 AU from the sun. Alcathous is about 113.7 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware.

The rotation of Alcathous has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.69 hours.

Alcathous's spectral type D (Tholen) / None (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain .

No Close Approaches

Alcathous's orbit is 3.87 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an extremely 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

Alcathous's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 19, 1950. It was last officially observed on July 4, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,986 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 Alcathous:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 5.177 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.0658
  • Inclination: 16.63°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 268.0°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 292.75°
  • Mean Anomaly: 120.52°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 113.68200 km
  • Magnitude: 8.61
  • Albedo: 0.048
  • Spectral type (Tholen): D

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 4,300 days (11.77 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 13.10 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.52 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 4.84 AU
  • Rotation Period: 7.69 hours
  • Approx. Composition: .

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Alcathous 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.