Klytia

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (44.59 km diameter)
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Klytia orbits the sun every 1,590 days (4.35 years), coming as close as 2.55 AU and reaching as far as 2.78 AU from the sun. Klytia is about 44.6 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Klytia has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 8.30 hours.

No Close Approaches

Klytia's orbit is 1.57 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

Klytia's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 2, 1864. It was last officially observed on July 4, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 6,054 observations used to determine its orbit.

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

View asteroid Klytia 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 Klytia:

• 3 Juno (A804 RA)
• 75 Eurydike (A862 SA)
• 77 Frigga (A862 VA)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Klytia 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.