Key Facts

Overview

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

Iku-Turso orbits the sun every 1,230 days (3.37 years), coming as close as 2.04 AU and reaching as far as 2.44 AU from the sun. Iku-Turso is about 7.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay.

No Close Approaches

Iku-Turso's orbit is 1.06 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

Iku-Turso's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 12, 1942. It was last officially observed on July 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,631 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 Iku-Turso:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.242 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.0901
  • Inclination: 3.3°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 74.36°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 24.47°
  • Mean Anomaly: 161.21°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 7.25700 km
  • Magnitude: 13.13
  • Albedo: 0.138

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,230 days (3.37 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.83 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.44 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.04 AU

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Iku-Turso 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.