Hektor

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
• Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Maryland (225.00 km diameter)
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Hektor orbits the sun every 4,420 days (12.10 years), coming as close as 5.15 AU and reaching as far as 5.39 AU from the sun. Hektor is about 225.0 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Maryland.

The rotation of Hektor has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 6.92 hours.

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

No Close Approaches

Hektor's orbit is 4.16 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

Hektor's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 11, 1907. It was last officially observed on April 22, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 6,053 observations used to determine its orbit.

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

View asteroid Hektor 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 Hektor:

• 1173 Anchises (1930 UB)
• 3540 Protesilaos (1973 UF5)
• 4035 Thestor (1986 WD)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Hektor 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.