Key Facts

Overview

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

Hugowolf orbits the sun every 1,310 days (3.59 years), coming as close as 2.04 AU and reaching as far as 2.64 AU from the sun. Hugowolf is about 8.9 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay.

The rotation of Hugowolf has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.65 hours.

No Close Approaches

Hugowolf's orbit is 1.03 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

Hugowolf's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 1, 1980. It was last officially observed on Nov. 16, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,626 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 Hugowolf:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.34 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1302
  • Inclination: 2.68°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 300.98°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 284.88°
  • Mean Anomaly: 171.08°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 8.93700 km
  • Magnitude: 14.33
  • Albedo: 0.058

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,310 days (3.59 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.43 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.64 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.04 AU
  • Rotation Period: 3.65 hours

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Hugowolf 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.