Echo

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (43.22 km diameter)
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Echo orbits the sun every 1,350 days (3.70 years), coming as close as 1.95 AU and reaching as far as 2.83 AU from the sun. Echo is about 43.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Echo has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 25.21 hours.

Echo's spectral type S (Tholen) / S (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .

No Close Approaches

Echo's orbit is 0.97 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

Echo's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 1, 1861. It was last officially observed on July 4, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 6,519 observations used to determine its orbit.

Scientists have been able to determine this object's shape:

View asteroid Echo 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 Echo:

• 7 Iris (A847 PA)
• 9 Metis (A848 HA)
• 25 Phocaea (A853 GB)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Echo 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.