Key Facts
- Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware (92.79 km diameter)
- Not a Near Earth Object
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Urania is a large asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in the main portion of the asteroid belt. NASA JPL has not classified Urania as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.
Urania orbits the sun every 1,330 days (3.64 years), coming as close as 2.06 AU and reaching as far as 2.67 AU from the sun. Urania is about 92.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware.
The rotation of Urania has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 13.69 hours.
Urania's spectral type S (Tholen) / Sl (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .
No Close Approaches
Urania's orbit is 1.07 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
Urania's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 22, 1860. It was last officially observed on May 7, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,956 observations used to determine its orbit.
Scientists have been able to determine this object's shape:
View asteroid Urania in 3D.
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 Urania:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.365 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.1271
- Inclination: 2.09°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 307.42°
- Argument of Periapsis: 86.96°
- Mean Anomaly: 103.08°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 92.78700 km
- Magnitude: 7.6
- Albedo: 0.192
- Spectral type (Tholen): S
- Spectral type (SMASS): Sl
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,330 days (3.64 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.35 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.67 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 2.06 AU
- Rotation Period: 13.69 hours
- Approx. Composition: and .
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Urania 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.