Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut (126.42 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Undina orbits the sun every 2,080 days (5.69 years), coming as close as 2.85 AU and reaching as far as 3.52 AU from the sun. Undina is about 126.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut.

The rotation of Undina has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 15.94 hours.

Undina's spectral type X (Tholen) / Xc (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain iron, nickel, cobalt, and platinum.

No Close Approaches

Undina's orbit is 1.85 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

Undina's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 9, 1871. It was last officially observed on March 13, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,983 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 Undina:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.185 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1053
  • Inclination: 9.92°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 101.4°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 237.05°
  • Mean Anomaly: 99.0°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 126.42000 km
  • Magnitude: 6.82
  • Albedo: 0.2509
  • Spectral type (Tholen): X
  • Spectral type (SMASS): Xc

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,080 days (5.69 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.66 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 3.52 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.85 AU
  • Rotation Period: 15.94 hours
  • Approx. Composition: iron, nickel, cobalt, and platinum.

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Undina 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.